• Windex007@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    Counterpoint:

    They already are losing money. They themselves do not project that they will be profitable until 2030. The idea that “smart people with spreadsheets won’t let them lose money” is obviously wrong because they have done nothing except lose money, ever.

    They get thier operating capital from funding, not sales.

    Now, I agree that the gambit is wrong. So you’re right. You’re just right for the wrong reason.

    Funding is just the cash value of market optimism for the future of your product. High usage props up optimism. Social media IPOs were valued very much based on active users, the idea being that more users meant more opportunity for profit.

    The more people actively using these tools, even if they’re just maliciously burning tokens, just add to the “active users” metric. Which makes funding easier. And funding is the ACTUAL way these companies “make thier money”.

    • tristynalxander@mander.xyz
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      3 hours ago

      Sure, they’re in the business of selling shares not AI-tokens. Standard bubble stuff. Doesn’t change the overall point.

      • Windex007@lemmy.world
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        6 minutes ago

        Yeah, I conceded that your call to action was correct.

        Just wanted to add colour so people understand the mechanics at play. When you understand them, it lets people evaluate other things, without needing you to tell them what to do.

        For example, if your comprehension of these companies is that the companies are acting with the goal of profitability l, they would see something like a fast-track onto an index post IPO as a bid for legitimacy, some kind of ego play.

        If you comprehend it as a beast that can only subsist on funding with no viable product, it entirely changes how you comprehend the post IPO index listing desire.