OpenAI's ChatGPT is no longer the company's most important product, according to Alistair Barr's article. Barr argues that the next battle in AI will be about customer lock-in, not model quality. Barr highlights the changing economics of AI, where competing solely on model quality is expensive and not a recipe for durable profits. Instead, Barr believes that OpenAI and Anthropic are increasingly focused on building products that are harder for customers to leave, such as AI coding services like Claude Code and Codex. These tools could become exceptionally sticky, as they help companies generate software at unprecedented speed and create codebases that grow beyond what human developers can realistically manage. This may explain why Anthropic and OpenAI are racing to turn Claude Code and Codex into broader AI-powered work platforms rather than standalone coding products. However, Barr also notes that customers are moving the other way, with enterprise buyers wanting flexibility, portability, and lower token bills. The tension between sticky, high-margin products and flexibility is shaping the AI market, and the winners of the next phase of AI may be the companies that best navigate this conflict. Barr concludes by encouraging readers to sign up for BI's Tech Memo newsletter and reach out with tips.
