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Peehu Dwivedi's avatar

Openness (Open platform) is like a sunflower turning toward the sun, inviting collaboration, sharing, and creativity. It encourages developers to work together and explore new ideas. Open platforms create a lively environment where different ideas come together, leading to new apps and services. But sometimes, this openness can be taken advantage of, causing concerns about privacy.

Closed platforms are like a walled garden, providing a controlled and secure space. Big tech companies manage these platforms to keep users safe. However, this control can also limit innovation, and there's a risk of monopolies forming.

In my opinion, HYBRID GARDEN (a mix of both open and closed) approach would be best. Collaboration and rules can work together to encourage innovation while maintaining safety and fairness. Transparency is crucial for building trust, and fair competition keeps things balanced. Users are essential for this digital ecosystem to thrive.

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Sarvaswi Patil's avatar

The collaboration between Apple and Google to integrate Gemini into iPhones showcases the immense potential of Open Platforms in the tech industry. Despite challenges like privacy concerns and anti-trust issues, Open Platforms offer invaluable benefits, including freedom for creators and rapid development of innovative features. In this collaboration, while Google gains access to Apple's user base, Apple also benefits from Google's advanced AI capabilities. This integration promises improved user satisfaction and competitiveness for Apple devices, highlighting the advantages of cross-platform partnerships. Open Platforms foster agility and flexibility, enabling quick adaptation to market trends and user preferences. This agility is crucial for closed platforms like Apple to stay competitive in a dynamic industry landscape. Moreover, leveraging Open Platforms can be cost-effective for closed platforms, leading to faster product development cycles and reduced research and development costs. This strategic approach emphasizes collaboration and innovation, ultimately benefiting both users and platform providers.

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Akshat Agrawal's avatar

The newsletter gave me some really interesting ideas. Apple and Google might work together to make iPhones better with Google's AI engine called Gemini. This is surprising because usually, they compete. It's cool to see how big companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Google manage their platforms differently. Apple keeps its system closed, while Google is more open.

They talked about things like UPI and Aadhaar in India, showing how important it is to have open platforms for making new things and services. They also talked about privacy and competition, which helps us understand more about how platforms work. Overall, this newsletter taught me a lot about technology and how big companies manage it.

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Preetham M S's avatar

This writing offers a fantastic framework for analyzing open vs. closed platforms. The WAVE framework (Innovation, Privacy, Antitrust) with real-world examples like Apple, Google, and UPI is a great learning tool.

It highlights the trade-offs: Apple's closed system fosters security but limits innovation, while Google's open platform fuels innovation but raises privacy concerns. Public goods platforms like UPI show promise but require strong data protection measures.

The antitrust angle is crucial for MBAs to understand, especially with the recent DOJ lawsuit against Apple. The writing emphasizes the need for balance - open competition fosters innovation, but regulations are needed to prevent monopolies.

Overall, a well-structured analysis that provides valuable insights into a complex issue in today's digital world.

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Shivam Raj's avatar

This newsletter provides a clear and comprehensive overview of the ongoing debate between open and closed platforms in the tech industry, using recent events involving major players like Apple, Google, and Microsoft to illustrate key points. By analyzing these events and discussing their implications, the newsletter helps me understand the context surrounding platform dynamics, innovation strategies, privacy concerns, and anti-trust issues. The comparison between different platform approaches, alongside examples from public goods platforms like UPI and Aadhaar, offers a well-rounded understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the digital landscape. Overall, the newsletter serves as a valuable resource for gaining insights into the complexities of platform governance and its impact on the tech industry and society.

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ANJALI NARANG's avatar

Really insightful. The case exemplifies the broader debate about the role of regulatory oversight in preventing monopolistic practices while encouraging innovation and safeguarding user privacy. This development signals a critical examination of how closed ecosystems operate within the broader digital economy. Hoping to learn more from upcoming writings.

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