Why AI Model Makers Are Now Selling Inference Credits Like Cloud Providers

In episode 45 of AI Business with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore a quiet but seismic shift in the AI industry: model makers like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere are moving beyond selling API tokens to offering inference compute credits — bundles of GPU time that customers can allocate across applications, much like AWS reserved instances. The hosts unpack why this model emerged, how it changes pricing for enterprises, and what it means for the hardware vs. software divide. Lucas cites Super Micro Computer's 26% drop over five days as a signal that hardware demand may be softening as software margins tighten. Luna connects the trend to Microsoft's 6.9% dip, noting that even cloud giants are being squeezed. The episode drills into one concrete number: inference-as-a-service margins of 70-80% versus the 40-50% typical of hardware leasing. A must-listen for operators and builders navigating AI procurement in mid-2026. #AIInferenceCredits #OpenAI #Anthropic #Cohere #CloudPricing #GPUCompute #AIEnterprise #AIEconomics #ModelMakers #AIHardware #SuperMicroComputer #MSFT #EnterpriseAI #BusinessAndTechnology #Podcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #AIAdoption Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo