AI Isn’t Becoming Unstable. It’s Growing Up
Published on March 23, 2026
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I came across a post from Jeremy:
“Has Anyone Else Seen This About Microsoft and OpenAI… or Am I Overthinking It?”
He asked a simple question:
Are we building on something that could shift overnight?
It’s a fair concern.
A lot of people are thinking it right now, even if they are not saying it out loud.
Between headlines about a “Microsoft–OpenAI divorce,” rising costs, and open-source alternatives showing up, it is easy to assume the ground is unstable.
I do not see it that way.
This Isn’t Instability. It’s Competition.
Most of the concern comes from how the situation is framed.
You will see things like:
- Microsoft is ditching OpenAI
- AI costs are exploding
- Open-source will replace everything
That language gets attention. It does not explain reality.
Big companies competing is normal.
Microsoft building its own models does not mean OpenAI disappears. It means Microsoft is reducing dependency and increasing leverage.
The same applies to cost.
AI is expensive. That is not new. High cost does not automatically mean pricing spikes. It usually leads to more competition. Competition improves options.
What looks unstable is usually just a system moving into its next phase.
What’s Actually Changing
We are moving out of a phase where people rely on a single tool.
We are moving into a multi-model environment.
That means:
- different tools for different tasks
- more specialization
- more options
That is not fragmentation.
That is what growth looks like.
We are also starting to see AI move beyond simple prompting. It is being used to plan tasks, execute workflows, and connect systems together.
That shift matters more than any headline.
The Real Risk Isn’t the Tools
Most people are not building AI.
They are building with it.
If everything depends on one tool, any change feels like a threat.
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If your structure is solid, the tool is just a layer.
Swap the tool, keep the system.
For example, the way I structure my own work is not tied to one tool.
The framework stays the same. SEO, AEO, UX, and GEO. That does not change based on which AI I use.
If one tool disappears, the system still holds. I would adjust the execution layer and keep moving.
That is the difference.
The risk is not Microsoft, OpenAI, or any new model.
The risk is building something that only works as long as nothing changes.
What Actually Changes
Let’s keep this simple.
Things that will change:
- tools
- pricing models
- available options
Things that should not break:
- your process
- your structure
- your ability to produce
If those fail when a tool changes, the issue is not the tool.
It is the foundation.
Open Source vs Paid. Control Comes With Responsibility.
This is where things get misunderstood.
It is not free vs safe.
It is control vs responsibility.
Open-source AI gives you:
- control
- customization
- no subscription
It also gives you full responsibility:
- setup
- security
- updates
- verifying what you install and run
This is where the real risk shows up.
Jeremy mentioned malicious code. That is not theoretical.
Some open-source tools, extensions, and repositories include unsafe or hidden code. That can expose your system, your data, or your accounts.
The risk is not the AI.
The risk is running code you do not understand or have not verified.
Paid platforms handle that layer. They provide guardrails and managed environments.
Open-source removes that layer.
If you choose control, you also accept the responsibility that comes with it.
For most people building online, open-source is not a replacement right now.
It is a different path for people who know how to manage it.
Most people do not need more control.
They need more structure.
So… Are We Building on Something Unstable?
No.
We are building in a space that is evolving.
That has always been true.
The difference now is speed and visibility.
This is not something to panic about.
It is something to understand.
The Line That Matters
The people who struggle will be tied to tools.
The people who move forward will be the ones building systems.
One Question to Think About
If your main AI tool disappeared tomorrow, what actually breaks?
The tool?
Or your system?
JD
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