BusinessSeptember 6, 2026

cannibalizing

KAN-uh-buh-ly-zing

Definition

The process by which one product, service, or business activity reduces the sales or market share of another within the same company or sector.

Etymology

Derived from the word 'cannibal,' which traces back to the Spanish 'caníbal' and the indigenous Taino people, it originally referred to the eating of one's own kind before shifting in the 20th century to describe internal business competition.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe how localized AI infrastructure is replacing and reducing the demand for cloud-based software services. This shift explains why software providers like MongoDB are facing structural revenue challenges.

AI Token Costs Are Changing the Hardware vs. Software Debate

Read the full article ↗

MarketBeat

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