IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/hal/wpaper/halshs-05295270.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Data and Computing Power: The New Frontiers of Competition in Generative AI

Author

Listed:
  • Frédéric Marty

    (GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur, CIRANO - Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en analyse des organisations [Montréal, Canada] = Center for Interuniversity Research and Analysis on Organizations [Montréal, Canada])

  • Thierry Warin

    (CIRANO - Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en analyse des organisations [Montréal, Canada] = Center for Interuniversity Research and Analysis on Organizations [Montréal, Canada], HEC Montréal - HEC Montréal)

Abstract

Digital markets are increasingly dominated by entities that leverage technical specificities such as network effects, economies of scale, and scope, as well as significant advantages in data access and critical infrastructure, including computing power and cloud capacities. The advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI) marks a potential inflection point in this landscape. In this context, the primary barriers to entry are no longer merely data and open source foundation models but the availability of large, high-quality datasets and substantial computing power. This paper examines whether these barriers will entrench the dominant positions of Big Tech companies or if they will catalyze a reshuffling of competitive dynamics. By focusing on the dual challenges of data and computing power, this study identifies the key factors that will shape the future competitive landscape of the generative AI industry. This article contributes to the ongoing debate in industrial economics and strategic management regarding the potentially disruptive effects of generative AI on the market power of Big Tech firms. Can this technological shift recalibrate competitive dynamics, or will it ultimately serve to entrench existing power structures? At its core, the article seeks to interrogate a prevailing narrative—namely, the notion that innovation inherently sustains competitive processes, even in the face of short-term lock-in effects

Suggested Citation

  • Frédéric Marty & Thierry Warin, 2025. "Data and Computing Power: The New Frontiers of Competition in Generative AI," Working Papers halshs-05295270, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-05295270
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    To our knowledge, this item is not available for download. To find whether it is available, there are three options:
    1. Check below whether another version of this item is available online.
    2. Check on the provider's web page whether it is in fact available.
    3. Perform a
    for a similarly titled item that would be available.

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhijun Chen & Chongwoo Choe & Jiajia Cong & Noriaki Matsushima, 2022. "Data‐driven mergers and personalization," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 53(1), pages 3-31, March.
    2. David J. TEECE, 2008. "Profiting from technological innovation: Implications for integration, collaboration, licensing and public policy," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: The Transfer And Licensing Of Know-How And Intellectual Property Understanding the Multinational Enterprise in the Modern World, chapter 5, pages 67-87, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    3. Cecilia Rikap, 2019. "Asymmetric Power of the Core: Technological Cooperation and Technological Competition in the Transnational Innovation Networks of Big Pharma," Review of International Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(5), pages 987-1021, September.
    4. Robinson, Douglas K.R. & Mazzucato, Mariana, 2019. "The evolution of mission-oriented policies: Exploring changing market creating policies in the US and European space sector," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 936-948.
    5. Jean Tirole, 2023. "Competition and the Industrial Challenge for the Digital Age," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 15(1), pages 573-605, September.
    6. Nicolas Petit & David J Teece, 2021. "Innovating Big Tech firms and competition policy: favoring dynamic over static competition [Patterns of industrial innovation]," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 30(5), pages 1168-1198.
    7. Daron Acemoglu & Todd Lensman, 2024. "Regulating Transformative Technologies," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 6(3), pages 359-376, September.
    8. Jean Tirole, 2023. "Competition and the Industrial Challenge for the Digital Age," Post-Print hal-04464905, HAL.
    9. Cecilia Rikap, 2024. "Varieties of corporate innovation systems and their interplay with global and national systems: Amazon, Facebook, Google and Microsoft’s strategies to produce and appropriate artificial intelligence," Review of International Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(6), pages 1735-1763, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Song, Yue & Gnyawali, Devi & Qian, Lihong, 2024. "From early curiosity to space wide web: The emergence of the small satellite innovation ecosystem," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(2).
    2. Luca Grilli & Sergio Mariotti & Riccardo Marzano, 2024. "Artificial intelligence and shapeshifting capitalism," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 303-318, April.
    3. Soltanzadeh, Javad & Blind, Knut & Elyasi, Mehdi, 2023. "Exploring how regulators face platform business issues in the lifecycle stages: Evidence of iranian ride-hailing platform business," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(7).
    4. Veronica Lupi & Valentina Morretta & Lorenzo Zirulia, 2024. "Earth Observation data, innovation and economic performance: a study of the downstream sector in Italy," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 14(1), pages 103-136, March.
    5. Doré, Natalia I. & Araújo, Eliane, 2025. "Long-term analysis of Kaldor's law applied to Brazil (1909-2020)," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 147-157.
    6. Masahito AMBASHI & Naoyuki HARAOKA & Fukunari KIMURA & Yasuyuki SAWADA & Masakazu TOYODA & Shujiro URATA, 2025. "New Industrial Policies to Achieve Sustainable Asia-Wide Economic Development," Working Papers DP-2024-34, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
    7. Cristina Simone & Antonio Laudando, 2025. "Principles and obligations of the Digital Markets Act in regulating the economic power of gatekeepers: Positive, negative or trade-off effects?," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 35(1), pages 1-27, December.
    8. Frédéric Marty & Thierry Warin, 2025. "Territorial Control of Data and Compute in Generative AI: A New Paradigm of Competitive Advantage," CIRANO Working Papers 2025s-27, CIRANO.
    9. Batabyal, Amitrajeet A. & Kourtit, Karima & Nijkamp, Peter, 2025. "Political competition, fiscal policy, and economic performance in techno-creative places," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    10. Federico Etro, 2024. "e‐Commerce platforms and self‐preferencing," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 1516-1543, September.
    11. Gustavo Berganti~nos & Juan D. Moreno-Ternero, 2025. "New methods to compensate artists in music streaming platforms," Papers 2510.25275, arXiv.org.
    12. Soufiane Mezzourh & Walid A Nakara, 2009. "Governance and innovation : A Knowledge-based approach [La gouvernance de l'innovation : une approche par la connaissance]," Post-Print halshs-01955966, HAL.
    13. Kuosmanen, Natalia & Valmari, Nelli, 2023. "Renewal of Companies Through Product Switching," ETLA Working Papers 104, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    14. Laura Barbieri & Daniela Bragoli & Flavia Cortelezzi & Giovanni Marseguerra, 2015. "Public Support to Innovation Strategies," DISCE - Quaderni del Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali dises1509, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimenti e Istituti di Scienze Economiche (DISCE).
    15. Baldwin, Carliss Y. & Bogers, Marcel L.A.M. & Kapoor, Rahul & West, Joel, 2024. "Focusing the ecosystem lens on innovation studies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(3).
    16. Massimo Colombo & Annalisa Croce & Samuele Murtinu, 2014. "Ownership structure, horizontal agency costs and the performance of high-tech entrepreneurial firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 42(2), pages 265-282, February.
    17. Ariño, Africa & García-Canal, Esteban & Valdes, Ana, 1999. "Longevity of strategic alliances between competitors: A dynamic value creation approach," IESE Research Papers D/404, IESE Business School.
    18. Zemsky, Peter & Adner, Ron, 2003. "Disruptive Technologies and the Emergence of Competition," CEPR Discussion Papers 3994, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    19. Frida Thomas Pacho, 2018. "Diversified Network Effects on Innovation Performance in Tanzania: Innovation Strategy in Service Firms," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, Macrothink Institute, Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, vol. 5(1), pages 1-1, December.
    20. Dwibedy, Punyashlok, 2022. "Informal competition and product innovation decisions of new ventures and incumbents across developing and transitioning countries," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 17(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • K21 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Antitrust Law
    • L12 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Monopoly; Monopolization Strategies
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L41 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Monopolization; Horizontal Anticompetitive Practices

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-05295270. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: CCSD (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.