Artificial intelligence requires a vast amount of data to be effective. This is part of why so many big companies are pursuing AI projects with such fervor. Larger companies have access to more data and are therefore able to produce superior AI results than companies that have less data. Thus, larger companies have a vast competitive advantage over small ones if they are able to leverage AI expertise effectively. Public blockchains remove this advantage because the same data is available to all. In this realm, smaller startups that are more nimble and have nothing to lose could leverage this public data to provide new services and offerings through proprietary or highly targeted offerings.

Similarly, it is expected that consortium blockchains will further strengthen incumbents who can share data among one another to keep out new competitors. The existing cartel would have vast data troves larger than any of the individual actors, creating a defensive perimeter around their industry. While the consortium members might still compete among themselves, their data advantage would help shield them from new market entrants.