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So news about OpenAI demise is real. They can’t sustain themselves without ads.

Never in any world were any of the top AI labs not going to sustain themselves with ads. It has always been a timing issue.

Even a cut on every sale on site + sub rev not close.

Even if it wasn't necessary for their survival, it's hard to imagine a world where they wouldn't try to do it anyways. I'm not someone who buys into the idea that companies are obligated to maximize profits at the expense of all else, but I do think that in the absence of other factors (e.g. regulation) it's where pretty much every company will end up.

"the idea that companies are obligated to maximize profits at the expense of all else"

!! That is literally the definition of legally-binding fiduciary resonsibility for publicly-traded corporations. There are exceptions (PBCs, B-Corps) but they're rare.

It's really not though.

This is a completely stupid take and I have no idea why so many people repeat it. This responsibility just means you have to have to document your work understandably and have a somewhat sensible reason for decisions. It does not at all force you to greed.

Please cite your source for this. Everything I've ever read on the topic indicates that this is a vast oversimplification.

They can’t be hemorrhaging cash when they IPO.

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