AI Economics: Open Source vs Commercial AI — The Strategic Economics of Build Freedom
Abstract
The choice between open source and commercial AI solutions represents one of the most consequential economic decisions enterprise leaders face today. This paper provides a comprehensive economic analysis of both approaches, drawing from 14 years of enterprise software experience and dozens of AI implementations. Through detailed TCO modeling across five-year horizons, case study analysis, and quantitative comparison frameworks, this research demonstrates that the optimal choice depends on organizational AI maturity, use case complexity, and strategic positioning.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Artificial Intelligence Applications
Digital Platforms and Economics
Information Technology Governance and Strategy
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Publication date
- 12 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Preprint