This is a standard “commoditize your complement” play. It’s in GitHub / Microsoft’s best interest to make sure none of the LLMs become dominant.
As long as that happens, their competitors light money on fire to build the model while GitHub continues to build / defend its monopoly position.
Also, given that there are already multiple companies building decent models, it’s a pretty safe bet Microsoft could build their own in a year or two if the market starts settling on one that’s a strategic threat.
See also: “embrace, extend, extinguish” from the 1990’s Microsoft antitrust days.
As long as that happens, their competitors light money on fire to build the model while GitHub continues to build / defend its monopoly position.
Also, given that there are already multiple companies building decent models, it’s a pretty safe bet Microsoft could build their own in a year or two if the market starts settling on one that’s a strategic threat.
See also: “embrace, extend, extinguish” from the 1990’s Microsoft antitrust days.