Silicon Valley presented AI as a noble research tool. Now it's all about cold, hard cash.

• Tech firms once had the luxury of pursuing expensive AI research. 
• But the rise of ChatGPT has pushed them to prioritize the commercialization of the technology.
• It's a sign that companies hope AI will play a greater role in boosting revenue.

There was a time when companies working on artificial intelligence seemingly had the luxury of experimenting with any research endeavor of their choosing – without any worries about the bill.