Who Really Controls AI Today?
Artificial intelligence is no longer just a futuristic concept—it’s here, it’s everywhere, and it’s rewriting the rules of business, technology, and even human interaction. From ChatGPT answering questions in seconds to Google’s Gemini shaping how search works, AI is rapidly becoming the invisible hand behind productivity, creativity, and decision-making.
But a critical question looms: who really controls AI today?
R. Kenner French, in his Vast Voice conversation, provides a reality check. Despite the hype around hundreds of startups and open-source projects, the truth is much simpler: Microsoft and Google dominate the AI marketplace. Their control affects not only businesses but also consumers, regulators, and society at large.
The Power Players: Microsoft & Google ⚡
At the heart of AI innovation, two names stand taller than the rest: Microsoft and Google.
Microsoft has strategically aligned itself with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. This partnership gives Microsoft exclusive integration rights, embedding advanced AI models directly into its products. From Microsoft 365 Copilot to Azure’s AI infrastructure, Microsoft has positioned itself as the go-to provider for enterprise AI solutions. If you’re using Excel, Teams, or Word today, chances are you’re already interacting with AI—even if you don’t realize it.
Google, on the other hand, has been a pioneer in AI research for over a decade. Tools like TensorFlow powered machine learning long before AI became mainstream. Today, its Gemini and Bard platforms push the envelope of generative AI while seamlessly integrating with Google Search, Gmail, and Workspace. With its dominance in online advertising, Google is uniquely positioned to monetize AI at scale.
👉 As French bluntly states: “Microsoft controls the AI market and Google. Everyone else is a splinter group.”
The Splinter Groups: Where Do They Stand? 🌱
What about the dozens of smaller AI companies you’ve heard of—Anthropic, Hugging Face, Stability AI, Mistral, Cohere?
These players are innovative but operate in the shadows of the giants. While they bring fresh ideas and sometimes outpace the big players in speed or niche applications, they lack one crucial resource: distribution power.
Microsoft and Google control the platforms where billions of people already work and communicate. That means when they roll out an AI feature, adoption is nearly instantaneous. Smaller companies may create breakthroughs, but scaling them to the masses remains an uphill battle.
The Role of Open Source AI 🌍
One of the most exciting—and controversial—movements in AI is open source development.
Communities worldwide are creating freely accessible AI models, lowering barriers for innovation and empowering smaller businesses. For example:
Hugging Face serves as a hub for open-source models.
Meta’s LLaMA models, while controlled by a major corporation, are openly distributed and adapted by researchers worldwide.
But there’s a trade-off: safety and oversight. Unlike Microsoft and Google, open-source projects often lack standardized guardrails. This means more freedom, but also more risk of misuse—from biased outputs to potential security concerns.
French highlights that open source lacks the safety parameters that corporate AI enforces. For entrepreneurs, this presents both an opportunity for innovation and a challenge in terms of responsibility.
Regulation: A Double-Edged Sword ⚖️
Governments are waking up to the power—and potential dangers—of AI. Across the globe, from the EU AI Act to U.S. congressional hearings, regulators are exploring how to protect consumers without stifling innovation.
Here’s the catch: regulation often favors the giants.
Large corporations like Microsoft and Google have the resources to comply with complex regulations.
They also have lobbying power to shape policies in ways that align with their business models.
Smaller AI firms may struggle to meet the same compliance burdens, effectively squeezing them out of the market.
In other words, regulation meant to protect consumers could unintentionally cement Microsoft and Google’s dominance.
Why Entrepreneurs Should Care 🚀
You might be wondering: what does this mean for business owners and entrepreneurs?
The implications are enormous:
Limited Provider Choice → The majority of AI tools you’ll adopt—whether for marketing, accounting, or customer service—will likely be built on Microsoft or Google’s ecosystems.
Dependence on Giants → Just like we rely on Apple and Android for mobile apps, businesses may become dependent on a handful of AI providers. That means less negotiation power and higher long-term costs.
Market Impact → If regulations tilt the playing field toward these tech titans, the AI startup ecosystem may thin out. That could reduce innovation and leave entrepreneurs with fewer alternatives.
Integration into Daily Life → Whether you’re drafting emails, analyzing spreadsheets, or planning business strategies, AI is already woven into the tools you use. Understanding who controls that AI means understanding who influences your work itself.
The Future of AI Control 🔮
While Microsoft and Google dominate today, the future isn’t written in stone. Several possible scenarios could reshape control:
Open Source Breakthroughs: If open-source AI continues to grow, it could democratize access and weaken the giants’ grip.
Global Regulation: Strong international rules could limit concentration of power and encourage competition.
New Entrants: Tech giants like Amazon, Apple, or even unexpected disruptors may introduce their own AI ecosystems.
Consumer Backlash: If users feel overly dependent on two companies, market demand could shift toward decentralized alternatives.
The reality? AI’s future will likely be a hybrid—a marketplace where big corporations dominate distribution but innovative startups and communities push creativity forward.
Final Thoughts 💡
AI is revolutionary. It will change businesses, industries, and daily lives in ways we’re only beginning to understand. But the question of who controls AI—whether it’s concentrated in the hands of Microsoft and Google, balanced by regulators, or decentralized by open-source communities—remains central to its future.
As R. Kenner French reminds us, “Understanding AI control is crucial for entrepreneurs.” Businesses that grasp these dynamics can better prepare for the opportunities and challenges ahead.
For now, Microsoft and Google stand as the gatekeepers. Everyone else? As French calls them—“a splinter group.”
The entrepreneurs who pay attention to this power struggle will be the ones who can best leverage AI to grow, protect, and future-proof their ventures. 🚀✨
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