AI Is Becoming the Next Cloud Computing Disaster

David Linthicum breaks down a pattern too many enterprises are ignoring: we are making the same mistakes with AI that we made with cloud computing. Companies are rushing to adopt AI platforms, sign long-term contracts, and outsource critical capabilities before they understand the real economics behind those decisions. The result is familiar—unexpected costs, weak governance, deep technical dependency, and fewer strategic options later.

David explains why AI enthusiasm is masking the hard architectural questions leaders should be asking right now. What will these systems actually cost at scale? How much control are we giving up when we build on proprietary models, APIs, and platforms? And what happens when the business needs to switch vendors, renegotiate pricing, or bring capabilities back in-house?

If your organization is investing in AI without a clear view of total cost, lock-in risk, governance, and exit strategy, this conversation is essential. This is not an argument against AI. It is a warning against careless adoption. The companies that win with AI will not be the fastest to buy—it will be the smartest to architect, govern, and maintain flexibility. That discipline will separate sustainable transformation from another expensive, avoidable enterprise technology mistake for many organizations.