The big tech spinoff wave, burning from last year into this year, has finally reached AI divisions.
Over the past few months, multiple tech giants have spun off their AI businesses into independent companies—independent financing, independent operations. This trend didn't appear suddenly; it's driven by several converging factors.
Different Valuation Logic
AI business valuation logic is fundamentally different from a parent company's traditional business.
When AI is buried inside a traditional tech company, the market prices it using traditional business metrics. An independent AI company can use AI industry multiples—which are currently much higher.
Different Governance Logic
AI business governance conflicts with traditional business structures.
Traditional tech company decision chains—product planning → engineering scheduling → testing → release—are too slow for AI. AI model iteration needs faster decision cycles, greater experimental freedom, and a culture that tolerates failure.
Spinning out an AI division creates a "special zone"—free from parent company bureaucracy, operating like an AI startup.
The OpenAI Precedent
OpenAI was the first to walk this path—from nonprofit research organization to independent company, ultimately becoming one of the world's highest-valued AI companies.
This precedent showed other tech giants' AI divisions a clear path: spin out, raise independently, go public.
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