Thread by @NoahEpstein_

OpenAI just pulled off the most brilliant corporate move since Apple created the walled garden.

And I hate that I have to admit it.

AgentKit isn't just a tool release. It's the final piece of an ecosystem trap that's about to swallow the entire AI industry.

Here's the play nobody's talking about: 🧵

Let me be transparent upfront (this is NOT a biased thread):

I barely use OpenAI. Simple tasks and Codex? Sure. But I'm mostly on n8n building shit, so Cursor's been better for me.

Personal work? I don't touch them.

Client work? Completely locked in.

And that's EXACTLY their strategy.

This is the Apple playbook, and it's fucking genius even if I hate it.

The Apple Comparison Everyone's Missing:

Remember when Apple wasn't "the best" at anything specific?

- Samsung had better cameras
- Android had more customization
- Other phones had better battery life

But Apple didn't need to be the best. They needed to be INTEGRATED.

OpenAI just did the same thing.

What OpenAI Released This Week:

→ AgentKit (visual agent builder)
→ Connector Registry (integration hub)
→ ChatKit (embeddable SDK)
→ Evaluation tools
→ Codex improvements

None of this is revolutionary tech. Claude already has similar SDKs. n8n has visual builders. Others have evaluation tools.

But that's not the point.

The Strategy Isn't Innovation - It's Integration:

OpenAI isn't trying to build the BEST agent builder.
They're building the most INTEGRATED ecosystem.

Agent Builder → connects to GPT models
ChatKit → connects to your apps
Connector Registry → connects to your tools
Codex → connects to your codebase
Evaluation → connects to your workflows

Everything loops back to OpenAI.

It's the same reason you're still using an iPhone even though you KNOW Samsung's camera is better:

Because your:
- Photos are in iCloud
- Messages are in iMessage
- Apps are in App Store
- Watch is Apple Watch
- AirPods only work seamlessly with iPhone

Switching cost = too fucking high.

OpenAI's version:

Your:
- Agents are in AgentKit
- Workflows are in their ecosystem
- API keys are configured
- Team is trained on their tools
- Clients expect ChatGPT integrations
- Data is in their format

Switching cost = too fucking high.

Here's my honest take as someone who DOESN'T want to be locked in:

I use OpenAI for client work not because they're the best, but because:

1. All my client data is already there
2. They already know my projects
3. Switching means reconfiguring everything
4. Clients recognize the OpenAI brand
5. It's just... easier

Sound familiar? That's the iPhone problem.

The Brutal Reality:

Claude has better reasoning for complex tasks.
Anthropic has better safety features.
Open-source models are more customizable.

But OpenAI has the ECOSYSTEM.

And in tech, ecosystem > features every single time.

Why This Week Changed Everything:

Before AgentKit: You could use OpenAI APIs and build elsewhere

After AgentKit: Why would you?

Your agents, your tools, your workflows, your evaluations - all in one place.

It's SO convenient. That's the trap.

The scary part?

They're not even hiding it.

Sam Altman basically said: "We're building the infrastructure for the AI economy."

Translation: "We're building the roads, and you'll pay the toll forever."

Apple did this with:
- App Store (30% cut)
- iCloud (monthly subscription)
- Apple Music (monthly subscription)
- Apple TV+ (monthly subscription)

OpenAI will do this with:
- API usage (per-token pricing)
- Agent hosting (monthly fees)
- Enterprise features (premium tiers)
- Connector access (integration fees)

And you'll pay because switching costs too much.

My Prediction:

In 2 years, we'll have:

"OpenAI Developers" - people who only know how to build in OpenAI's ecosystem
"OpenAI Agencies" - companies that only service OpenAI implementations
"OpenAI Consultants" - experts in OpenAI's specific tools

Just like we have:
- iOS developers
- Apple-certified repair shops
- Apple ecosystem consultants

The market will specialize around the ecosystem, making it EVEN HARDER to leave.

Why I'm Conflicted:

As a builder: I fucking hate this. I want open tools, interoperability, freedom to switch.

As a business owner: I completely understand why this works and why clients want it.

As a realist: I know I'm already trapped and so are you.

The Part That Actually Impresses Me:

This isn't about building the smartest AI.
It's about building the stickiest platform.

And they executed it FAST:

- ChatGPT (consumer lock-in)
- API (developer lock-in)
- Enterprise features (business lock-in)
- AgentKit (workflow lock-in)

Each layer makes leaving harder.

That's not lucky. That's strategic.

The Honest Truth About Why I Still Use Them:

When a client says "can you integrate AI?" they mean OpenAI.
When investors ask "what models do you use?" they want to hear OpenAI.
When I need something to "just work" for a demo, I use OpenAI.

Not because it's better.
Because it's expected.

That's how Apple won. Not by being best. By being default.

What This Means For You:

If you're building AI products:
→ You'll probably build on OpenAI because that's what clients expect
→ You'll probably stay because switching costs too much
→ You'll probably be fine with it because it mostly works

If you're consulting:
→ Learn the OpenAI ecosystem deeply
→ Position as "OpenAI specialists"
→ Charge premium for ecosystem expertise

If you're investing:
→ Bet on companies building ON TOP of OpenAI
→ Bet on OpenAI-specific tools and services
→ Bet on the ecosystem, not the competition

The Uncomfortable Conclusion:

I want to hate this.
I philosophically PREFER open systems.
I'd rather use Claude for complex reasoning.
I'd rather build with open-source tools.

But I'm a realist.

OpenAI just built the iPhone of AI.
And you don't fight the iPhone by having a better camera.

You accept that 90% of people will buy it anyway because their whole life is already in the ecosystem.

Will I switch my personal projects? Probably not immediately.
Will I keep using OpenAI for client work? Absolutely.
Will I recommend clients build on OpenAI? Unfortunately, yes.

Because ecosystem beats features.
Integration beats innovation.
Convenience beats philosophy.

That's the game. OpenAI just won it.

And we're all going to keep using them while complaining about it, just like iPhone users.

The only question is: Are you going to specialize in the ecosystem and make money, or fight it and lose?

I chose pragmatism. You should too.