OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, sources information from various corners of the internet. However, a significant portion of this data is copyrighted, giving rise to numerous lawsuits against OpenAI. These legal battles could potentially lead to the company's downfall and bankruptcy by the end of 2024. Interestingly, there's a silent contender waiting in the wings for this outcome. This contender is already entrenched in AI and working alongside Microsoft, who currently utilizes ChatGPT to power its search engine Bing. Microsoft, aware of the situation, has quietly begun a partnership with META, a strategic move since the data powering their language model isn't constrained by copyright or intellectual property laws. Their data comes from us, as we often skim through agreements, merely checking the "I agree" box without delving into the details.
META, the owner of Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and the new Threads, holds a treasure trove of data with zero liability and has wielded it without much accountability. The AI they're developing in conjunction with this data will pose a formidable challenge for any other company. By 2030 or even earlier, META is likely to acquire Microsoft, securing its position among the top three tech giants: Google, Apple, and META. Google and Apple gather data from users of their devices and services, an advantage over Microsoft due to their failed attempts to enter the mobile device market (remember Windows Phone?). For Microsoft to remain competitive, partnering with META is essential, as they lack the data reservoir possessed by Google and Apple. The data we've provided to these companies has now become the very essence of AI and machine learning, and regrettably, we are bound by the agreements we scarcely read. With every amendment to these agreements we check the box “I agree”, they inch closer and closer to complete control.
Inadvertently, we’re slowly merging with AI.
