Ask HN: Why LLM providers sell access instead of consulting services?
I don't understand the business model of AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic: if the claims of nearly autonomous agentic product development are true, why would they sell access to their LLMs, in some cases at a loss, instead of providing consulting services at a fraction of the cost when compared to traditional human businesses? In other words, why would they sell AI as a sort of commodity instead of using it to provide an end product like IT consulting which is extremely profitable? 4 comments on Hacker News.
I don't understand the business model of AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic: if the claims of nearly autonomous agentic product development are true, why would they sell access to their LLMs, in some cases at a loss, instead of providing consulting services at a fraction of the cost when compared to traditional human businesses? In other words, why would they sell AI as a sort of commodity instead of using it to provide an end product like IT consulting which is extremely profitable?
I don't understand the business model of AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic: if the claims of nearly autonomous agentic product development are true, why would they sell access to their LLMs, in some cases at a loss, instead of providing consulting services at a fraction of the cost when compared to traditional human businesses? In other words, why would they sell AI as a sort of commodity instead of using it to provide an end product like IT consulting which is extremely profitable? 4 comments on Hacker News.
I don't understand the business model of AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic: if the claims of nearly autonomous agentic product development are true, why would they sell access to their LLMs, in some cases at a loss, instead of providing consulting services at a fraction of the cost when compared to traditional human businesses? In other words, why would they sell AI as a sort of commodity instead of using it to provide an end product like IT consulting which is extremely profitable?
Hacker News story: Ask HN: Why LLM providers sell access instead of consulting services?
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Reviewed by Tha Kur
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February 06, 2026
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