AI
Stage
Function
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Ollama
1 Plenty for usersLocal LLM runner that lets you download and run open-weight models on your own hardware; no API calls, no usage billing, no data leaving your machine—VC-backed but FOSS by design.
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ChatGPT
3 Cashing inFlagship consumer LLM: free tier competes for attention; Plus, Team, and API convert habit into recurring revenue.
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Claude
2 Hard to leaveAnthropic’s assistant: Pro and Max plans monetize, but positioning still emphasizes capability and safety over ad models.
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Google Gemini
3 Cashing inGoogle’s LLM family bundled with Workspace and Android: utility rises with account depth; free use feeds the broader ad and data stack.
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Perplexity
2 Hard to leaveAnswer-first search with citations; Pro tier and publisher deals raise questions about who gets traffic and margin.