Hacker News asks why OpenAI sells tokens instead of starting firms
Original title: Ask HN: If the models are so good, why doesn't OpenAI just start 100 companies?
Commenters cite token revenue, a shorter runway, specialization, and limits on models running businesses.
An Ask HN thread asks why OpenAI and Anthropic sell model access rather than building many application companies. Replies say the labs already ship applications, that long-running agent token sales are the proven revenue line, and that borrowing is tighter than in the 2010s. Others compare the model to Apple’s App Store and say models still cannot autonomously run complex businesses.
Unconfirmed: Claims about revenue, runway, and acquisitions are unverified forum opinions.
- One commenter says agent token sales are the only clearly working revenue growth.
- Another says OpenAI has entered apps and consulting through acquisitions.
- A reply argues no single company can specialize in every application market.
From the original article
5 min read at news.ycombinator.com[](https://news. ycombinator. com/)Hacker Newsnew past comments ask show jobs submitlogin [](https://news.
By ex-aws-dude · news.ycombinator.com
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