Thursday, February 19, 2026

Why AI Continues to Resemble a Metered Utility

The Future of AI: From Scarcity to Abundance

In 2026, AI’s promise feels constrained by a scarcity problem, evident in usage limits and costly models. This evolving landscape reveals a significant tension:

  • Experience vs. Economics: Despite AI’s transformative power, current pricing models feel like metered utilities.
  • Cost Stack Inversion: Major profits rest with GPU vendors like NVIDIA, leaving developers facing thin margins and users rationed access.
  • Historical Patterns: AI mirrors past tech trends where dominant platforms limited innovation until competition arose.

Key Insights:

  • Two Scenarios Ahead:
    • Optimistic: Emerging alternatives to NVIDIA disrupt the cost stack, enhancing accessibility by 2029–2032.
    • Pessimistic: Prolonged NVIDIA dominance delays economic normalization until 2033–2037.

The Bottom Line:

AI is in a transitional phase, poised for a future where it becomes integral, predictable, and affordable—similar to electricity.

🔗 Join the conversation! What do you think the future holds for AI? Share your thoughts and insights!

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