---
id: "action-rethink-business-models"
type: "action-item"
source_timestamps: ["§ Reinvent"]
tags: ["strategy", "ceo"]
related: ["claim-api-first-survival", "concept-agent-ready-architecture"]
action: "Rethink platform-based business models and digital transformation roadmaps for an agent-first world."
outcome: "Avoid strategic obsolescence as AI agents bypass traditional platform revenue streams."
speakers: ["Yuanyuan Gina Cui", "Patrick van Esch", "Jan Kietzmann"]
sources: ["attention"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-attention"
originDay: 4
articleStem: "hbr-foci-69-ai-threatening-platforms"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/04/how-ai-is-threatening-platforms-revenue-streams"
sourceTitle: "How AI Is Threatening Platforms’ Revenue Streams"
---
# Rethink Platform-Based Business Models

**Audience:** CEOs and strategy leaders.

**Action:** Urgently rethink platform-based business models and digital-transformation roadmaps, operating under the assumption that human-facing interfaces and ad-driven revenue are **no longer future-proof**.

**Outcome:** Avoid strategic obsolescence as AI agents bypass traditional platform revenue streams.

This is the executive-level expression of [[claim-api-first-survival]] and the mindset shift required before adopting [[concept-agent-ready-architecture]]. Pairs with [[action-pivot-to-api-first]] (the technical execution) and [[action-prepare-for-third-party-infrastructure]] (the ecosystem stance).