Recently I was consulting with a publishing company that is exploring various ways to digitize and contextualize its content. Knowing that some of the company’s competitors had signed deals with IBM’s Watson, I asked several executives why they had not done a Watson deal themselves. “We think that the market for AI software is rapidly commoditizing, and we believe we can assemble the needed capabilities ourselves at much lower cost,” was this company’s party line. Some particularly knowledgeable managers mentioned that they expected the company would instead make use of open-source cognitive software made available from various providers. These potential providers are not small vendors — they include, for example, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, and Yahoo.
Will AI Companies Make Any Money?
Cognitive software is rapidly becoming a commodity.
July 12, 2016
New!
HBR Learning
Strategy Planning and Execution Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Strategy Planning and Execution. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to develop a winning strategy—and put it to work.
Learn More & See All Courses
New!
HBR Learning
Strategy Planning and Execution Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Strategy Planning and Execution. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to develop a winning strategy—and put it to work.