
The end of the network effect
From Another Podcast by Benedict Evans, Toni Cowan-Brown
February 28, 2026 · 26 min · Season 1 · Episode 23
About this episode
The episode discusses OpenAI's challenges regarding user engagement and the lack of a network effect in its technology.
OpenAI has some big questions. It doesn’t have unique tech. It has a big user base, but with limited engagement and stickiness and no network effect. The incumbents have matched the tech and are leveraging their product and distribution. And a lot of the value and leverage will come from new experiences that haven’t been invented yet, and it can’t invent all of those itself. What’s the plan?
People in this episode
Hosts: Benedict Evans, Toni Cowan-Brown
Topics covered
- network effect
- OpenAI
- technology
- user engagement
- product distribution
Keywords
- OpenAI
- network effect
- user base
- technology
- engagement
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: OpenAI
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- The AI presentation · November 16, 2025 · 38 min
- A double episode: AI differentiation, and Apple does F1 · August 21, 2025 · 46 min
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