How can I convince someone to be proactive who complains about Microsoft, Meta and Google taking all the power in the AI field, but is not willing to support open-source projects himself, but relies on others to do the work for him for free?
This sounds like a complex issue. Here are some steps you could take:
1) Explain that by not supporting open source, they are leaving money on the table - if their competitors have access to these tools, they will be able to offer better services at lower cost or even become dominant players themselves. They may also face legal consequences as the owners of these technologies would have more control over them.
2) Emphasize how important it is to maintain competition and innovation in this industry. Open sourcing these tools benefits everyone, including consumers. If companies such as Microsoft and Google were allowed to dominate this space without competition, we might still be using typewriters instead of computers today.
3) Discuss what kind of future they hope to create for themselves and their customers. Do they want to remain small niche players, or aim to be leaders in an emerging market? Make sure to explain why they believe their approach is best for the long term success of their business.
4) Offer a solution. If they truly believe in the importance of open source, maybe they would be willing to make a small contribution to an open source project they use every day. This shows goodwill and helps build bridges between the two sides. You could also suggest ways in which they can get involved more actively, perhaps by sponsoring a event or contributing code to a project they care about.
5) Finally, ask whether there is anything else you can help with. Perhaps they feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the issues surrounding AI and open source, and would appreciate some guidance from a neutral third party. It's always a good idea to listen to people's concerns and try to understand where they're coming from before offering advice.