Part 3/12:
OpenAI hadn’t expected this level of consumer adoption. Their initial business model was to sell access to AI models for enterprise use—boring, behind-the-scenes tech that wasn’t meant for billions of daily users. But ChatGPT exploded in popularity, transforming into a global brand almost by accident. In response, Google quickly activated its defenses—launching search enhancements, adding memory features, voice capabilities, and even experimenting with paid subscriptions—aiming to position itself as the ultimate AI search engine.