Latest open artifacts (#23): Laguna S2.1, Inkling, & Kimi K3 show the utility of open models on the Pareto frontier
AI lab consolidation hasn't materialized; open models are proliferating as token demand surges
“building token machines is a likely path to value, and more companies will identify that source of value over time”— Nathan Lambert
Nathan Lambert argues that the long-predicted consolidation of AI labs has failed to materialize, with more companies than ever releasing powerful open-weight models and generating significant revenue from them. Thinking Machines' Inkling (975B-A41B multimodal MoE) exemplifies the shift, with their open model fine-tuning service reportedly earning hundreds of millions annually. The piece frames 2026 as a decisive inflection point for open models competing for mainstream market share against closed providers.