Generative AI platforms as institutional catalysts of digital entrepreneurship : enablement, dependence & power dynamics
Nzembayie, Kisito F. (Trinity College (Dublin))
Urbano, David (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Empresa)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Centre d'Estudis i Recerca en Emprenedoria i Innovació Social

Date:	2026
Abstract:	This study theorizes how recent generative AI (Gen AI) platforms operate as institutional catalysts of platform-dependent entrepreneurship (PDE). Integrating institutional theory, the external enablement framework, and innovation platform theory, we propose an integrative framework for explaining the emergence of PDE under reliance on non-substitutable, platform-governed capabilities. Using an abductive mixed-method case study of OpenAI's ecosystem (2020-2025), we trace how governance, boundary resources, and institutional signals shape entrepreneurial feasibility, scaling, and vulnerability. Our analysis identifies four catalytic institutional mechanisms-Infrastructure Provision, Capability Scaffolding, Market Legitimization, and Ecosystem Orchestration-that enable venture creation while simultaneously generating dependence. Temporal analysis reveals an enablement-dependence paradox: platforms accelerate entry by democratizing frontier capabilities, yet accumulate dependencies that expose ventures to governance shocks. Empirically, we show how enthusiasm gave way to crisis during OpenAI's GPT-5 release, illustrating governance overreach, trust erosion cascades, and choice removal as control. We conclude with theoretical and practical implications.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2022-141777NB-I00 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-00719
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Note:	Altres ajuts: ICREA Academia programme
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Institutional catalysts ; External enablement ; Innovation platform ; Governance ; Dependence
Published in:	Technology in Society, Vol. 84 (march 2026) , p. 103074, ISSN 1879-3274

DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103074

19 p, 8.4 MB

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