Wall Street Journal Highlights Risks of Subsidized AI Revenue and Investor Transparency

Mon, 04 May 2026 12:36:00 +0200

A Wall Street Journal opinion piece raises concerns about the reliability of reported AI company revenues. Some AI firms are reportedly paying partners or subsidizing clients to use their products, which could distort the appearance of genuine demand. Examples cited include OpenAI's $1.5 billion joint venture with private-equity firms, Anthropic's $200 million contribution to a private-equity partnership, and Google's $750 million support for Gemini's adoption by consulting firms. Robert Pozen, an experienced investor and MIT lecturer, warns that these financial arrangements may lead to misleading sales figures. He notes that customers or portfolio companies might adopt AI tools because of financial incentives rather than genuine need, potentially causing revenues to drop when subsidies end. Pozen urges investors to examine what portion of AI sales is driven by such arrangements, along with retention rates of unsubsidized clients. The article emphasizes a lack of transparency in AI fin