When ChatGPT first debuted in November 2022, it sent shockwaves across the Internet, leaving many to wonder just how influential the new AI chatbot would be. John Kim UCLA says that with its ability to create human-like content for a nearly endless range of topics, some market analysts have even questioned whether it could shake Google from its seemingly omnipotent position. Others have focused on who stands to benefit most from the technology.
Although it’s still in its early days, there are a few obvious winners destined to benefit from ChatGPT. As long as the landmark development can rise above its inevitable competition, the AI technology will persist for many years to come. For now, though, let’s take a closer look at who will most benefit today.
The Obvious Winner – Microsoft
The main players responsible for ChatGPT likely won’t come as a surprise to anyone. In its inception, we find Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, who acted as the main financial backers, co-founders, and advocates for OpenAI—the developers behind ChatGPT. As development got underway, though, Musk distanced himself from the project, arguing that it had become overly profit driven.
At that point, Microsoft got involved and invested a startling $10 billion into the technology. This helped to propel it forward and guaranteed that ChatGPT would have the resources it needed to become a functioning and powerful language model. This also meant, though, that Microsoft become the primary stakeholder of the technology.
Any current or future successes will therefore benefit Microsoft directly. This could give the tech company a leg up on Apple, Google, and other competitors who are now scrambling to create a similar product.
Other Potential Winners – Big Business
It’s not just tech companies that stand to benefit from ChatGPT. In the few short months since its launch, leading businesses across multiple industries have begun exploring how the technology can increase efficiency, cut costs, and collect more accurate data. What’s so shocking though, is the type of industries currently considering these benefits.
From media outlets, such as Buzzfeed, to global institutions, like national banks and oil conglomerates, it seems that the world economy is hoping to incorporate AI language models into their daily operations. If it proves to be as efficient and effective as analysts have projected, ChatGPT could create a surge in global production.
Lesser Beneficiaries – Tech Investors
The last year hasn’t been the best for the tech industry. Meta Platforms—the parent company behind Facebook—has lost over 7% of its value in the last year alone. Yet, with Microsoft breaking new ground, it’s likely that competing companies will throw their hats into the ring. For Microsoft, its stock values have risen roughly 7% in the last month, highlighting just how profitable new technologies can be.
These profits will slowly trickle down to tech investors who have long been waiting for the next revolutionary development. As Google and Apple release their own answers to ChatGPT, it’s likely that their investors will also benefit.
The Bottom Line
AI is the wave of the future. Although it’s still in its infancy, the technology is bound to benefit Microsoft—its biggest financial backer—as well as global industries and investors supporting the tech boom. Where this may all lead is still unclear but, for now, it doesn’t seem as if ChatGPT will disappear anytime soon.
