This Week in Business Monetizing AI Platforms: Freemium Models, Sponsored Bots, and Beyond
Sep 3, 2025
Stefano Puntoni, a Wharton Marketing Professor and Co-Director of the Wharton Human AI Research Program, shares insights on the evolving monetization strategies for AI platforms. He discusses the freemium model and its challenges in balancing user attraction and revenue generation. The conversation shifts to sponsored chatbots, exploring their impact on consumer trust. Finally, Puntoni highlights the importance of energy efficiency in ensuring the sustainable future of AI technology.
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Freemium Fueled Rapid Model Improvement
- AI labs have used a freemium model: free access plus paid premium tiers to build massive user bases.
- Large free audiences provide data and feedback that accelerate model improvement.
Prioritize Enterprise If Consumer Revenue Falls Short
- Consider prioritizing enterprise sales if consumer monetization proves weak because enterprise often pays more.
- Maintain consumer products when they serve as acquisition and data engines supporting model improvement.
Sponsored Bots Create A Trust Tension
- Advertising could become a major revenue stream through sponsored chatbots that recommend paid solutions.
- Sponsored responses raise complex trust, disclosure, and regulation questions for consumers and regulators.