This Day in AI Podcast Why Sam Altman is Scared & Why People Are Giving Up on MCP | EP99.23
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Oct 31, 2025 OpenAI is pivoting towards a platform strategy, emphasizing tools and personal AGI over apps. The discussion highlights the implications of Cursor's new Composer model, which could challenge big players like OpenAI. Skepticism arises around the effectiveness of models in solving complex issues, stressing their supportive role for researchers. They also dive into the shortcomings of MCP implementations, advocating for improvements rather than abandonment. Finally, a home robot demo raises intriguing questions about robotics capabilities and privacy concerns.
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OpenAI's Platform Pivot
- Sam Altman's State of the Union signals OpenAI shifting to platform-first: chips, models, accounts, and third-party apps on top.
- This reframes OpenAI from app-maker to an AI cloud provider competing on distribution and infrastructure.
Apps Can Become Their Own Models
- Cursor's Composer model shows apps can train specialized models from user workflows and cut costs.
- That threatens OpenAI because popular apps can become their own model providers and reduce dependence on frontier APIs.
Models Aren't A Long-Term Moat
- There's no durable moat around base models because enterprises prefer model flexibility and can switch providers.
- Brand and distribution are OpenAI's remaining advantages, not an insurmountable technical lead.