Should vertical AI companies leverage or monetize the customer data they accumulate?

Kathryn Minshew · Sep 2, 2016

Refusing to use user data in ways that prioritize advertisers over individuals is what makes a two-sided career marketplace work for both sides

Companies pay for recruiting, hiring, employer branding and career development precisely because the platform has the best people and holds their trust and attention — so being user-first serves the employer side too

Scope: stated as The Muse's operating principle

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Shiv Rao · May 16, 2026

Abridge refuses to monetize by selling data because trust is everything in healthcare

The industry moves at the speed of trust; trust takes a long time to build and selling data would destroy it

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Shiv Rao · May 16, 2026

A healthcare foundation model built for the greater good is feasible, but only if every health system partner has explicitly consented in advance — Abridge's rule is to 'earn the right' by papering data usage into contracts before building.

Trust is everything in healthcare; the industry moves at the speed of trust, so data-leveraging features have to be blessed by partners with eyes wide open.

36:21 Only with explicit upfront contracted consent

David Frankel · Oct 14, 2024 · hedged

The right AI play for incumbent software companies is defensive first — enrich the data to retain and grow customers — and monetize only later

Once you've retained customers through enrichment and built the base, there is a lot you can do; it works like freemium on steroids

65:11 Defend first enrich data to retain customers monetize later