According to The Information, OpenAI is exploring a “value sharing” model, which would allow it to take a share of revenue from customers’ AI-assisted creations, such as apps, tools, and product ideas.
That’s different from paying a subscription fee for access.
It ties the AI to business outcomes.
This raises new questions around ownership, intellectual property, and patents.
If AI contributes to an idea, does it stay a tool… or become a stakeholder?
For example:
You ask AI to help brainstorm a new Coca-Cola flavour.
AI helps pick the flavour, name, and positioning.
Coca-Cola releases it. It goes viral. It sells out.
Now, who owns the idea?
Coca-Cola, because they produced and marketed it?
You, because you prompted the concept?
Or the AI company, because it helped create it?
If revenue is tied to contribution, someone will need to define what qualifies as meaningful human authorship.
The future of ideas may move faster. But the rules for who owns them and who gets paid just got a lot more complicated.