Media Theories in Transition: Rethinking the New AI Business Models

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are not only transforming academic practices but also reshaping the frameworks through which media and knowledge economies are theorized. In Algeria, the rise of vendors such as DzPlagiarism.in, AiZair, Academic Ai Tools, Fikra Academy, and ChatGPT Plus DZ illustrates how local actors mediate access to AI through innovative yet often informal business models. These practices raise questions that extend beyond pricing and usability, pointing to larger shifts in media theory concerning circulation, access, and platform economies. This study explores how such vendors adapt AI services to local conditions through subscription-sharing, freemium offers, and hybrid pricing strategies. Publicly available data from websites, social media, and user commentary were analyzed to assess affordability, accessibility, and user satisfaction. Thematic content analysis highlighted recurring concerns over delivery speed, reliability, refunds, and security, alongside positive evaluations of low-cost access and responsive service. These findings reveal the tensions between convenience and compliance, as shared accounts and opaque practices may contravene software policies while simultaneously democratizing access in resource-constrained contexts. By situating these business models within media theory, the study shows how AI adoption in Algerian higher education exemplifies the transition from traditional notions of media distribution to new forms of mediated access. The results underscore the need to expand media theories to account for informal economies, ethical uncertainties, and the socio-technical reconfiguration of academic practices. In doing so, the study contributes to debates on how emerging AI markets in the Global South are transforming both business models and theoretical understandings of media.