# Revenue-Sharing as Infrastructure: A Distributed Business Model for Generative AI Platforms

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.20533 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.20533/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 4 of its 23 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 20 Mar 2026.

## Builds on (most cited first, 4 of 4)

- [Large Generative AI Models meet Open Networks for 6G: Integration, Platform, and Monetization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.18790/) (2024)
- [Strategic Content Creation with Age of GenAI: To Share or Not to Share?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.16358/) (2025)
- [GenAI vs. Human Creators: Procurement Mechanism Design in Two-/Three-Layer Markets](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.06559/) (2025)
- [Bi-Attention HateXplain : Taking into account the sequential aspect of data during explainability in a multi-task context](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.13018/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Generative AI platforms (Google AI Studio, OpenAI, Anthropic) provide infrastructures (APIs, models) that are transforming the application development ecosystem. Recent literature distinguishes three generations of business models: a first generation modeled on cloud computing (pay-per-use), a second characterized by diversification (freemium, subscriptions), and a third, emerging generation exploring multi-layer market architectures with revenue-sharing mechanisms. Despite these advances, current models impose a financial barrier to entry for developers, limiting innovation and excluding actors from emerging economies. This paper proposes and analyzes an original model, "Revenue-Sharing as Infrastructure" (RSI), where the platform offers its AI infrastructure for free and takes a percentage of the revenues generated by developers applications. This model reverses the traditional upstream payment logic and mobilizes concepts of value co-creation, incentive mechanisms, and multi-layer market architecture to build an original theoretical framework. A detailed comparative analysis shows that the RSI model lowers entry barriers for developers, aligns stakeholder interests, and could stimulate innovation in the ecosystem. Beyond its economic relevance, RSI has a major societal dimension: by enabling developers without initial capital to participate in the digital economy, it could unlock the "latent jobs dividend" in low-income countries, where mobile penetration reaches 84%, and help address local challenges in health, agriculture, and services. Finally, we discuss the conditions of feasibility and strategic implications for platforms and developers.