OpenAI, a company that once significantly disrupted the market with its GPT and DALL-E technologies, appears to have moved beyond groundbreaking AI generation. The Silicon Valley giant is now actively shaping global industrial policy in the artificial intelligence sector. Evidence for this shift is presented in their recent document, "Industrial policy for the Intelligence Age." OpenAI is not merely offering AI solutions to the world; it is also dictating how governments should regulate these technologies and, concurrently, how the benefits of their implementation should be distributed. Under the guise of promoting "prosperity" and "sustainable institutions," the company is advancing an agenda that, in our view, is narrowly focused.
The mechanism is straightforward: grants of up to one million dollars for research and pilot programs. Officially, these are presented as noble investments in the future of the industry. In practice, however, this represents a targeted effort to cultivate a specific narrative and nurture specialists whose perspectives align closely with OpenAI's interests. The establishment of a new center in Washington and a dedicated feedback email are all steps designed to strengthen the company's and its partners' positions in the nascent market. OpenAI is clearly aiming to become not just a developer but the principal architect of the rules of engagement, all while funding "appropriate" research.
This initiative, framed by OpenAI as "early and exploratory" ideas, is, to put it mildly, a risky move. Attempts to set a global tone could very well provoke an undesirable, though predictable, reaction. Regulators, perceiving this not as a concern for the common good but as overt lobbying, are likely to increase oversight. Competitors, unwilling to be sidelined, will find ways to counter these efforts. History is replete with examples of tech giants that attempted to impose their standards and subsequently faced antitrust investigations.
What does this mean for business right now? OpenAI is transforming from an AI development leader into an ideologue and lobbyist, positioning itself as a trendsetter in global AI policy. The primary arena for competitive struggle is shifting from laboratories to the corridors of power and research institutions. The company is betting on shaping public opinion and regulatory frameworks, attempting to steer AI's development in a direction favorable to its own interests. For CEOs, this serves as a signal: AI implementation strategies must consider not only technological trends but also the geopolitical ambitions of key players like OpenAI. However, we have seen this play out before – it remains to be seen how long this carte blanche will last in the face of inevitable antitrust or regulatory scrutiny.