zlacker

While the title is jumping the gun a little, it is only a matter of time until I suspect this will be real. Give it maybe 5 years Max.

That said, first rule of predictions, don't provide a time frame.

>>SlowTa+(OP)
This is my take, too. I'm surprised by all the skepticism here, it looks to me like another case of techies not being able to see the wood for the trees.

These companies believe that AI puts them in an existential battle for survival. They're battening down the hatches. Concepts like open source and community collaboration can only look like unaffordable luxuries in such a context. Quaint, even.

IMO the last remaining hope for free software is going to be an entirely separate hardware-OS ecosystem, plus funding and lobbying to ensure that the web platform remains competitive.