Generative AI (GenAI) is rapidly becoming a central boundary resource for digital platforms, promising to enhance both the scale and quality of content creation. Unlike traditional boundary resources, which often provide standardized interfaces or tools, GenAI introduces a more dynamic, unpredictable, and very interesting element into the platform ecosystems. Its ability to generate text, images, and other media at unmatched speeds, reshapes the relationship between platform owners and complementors. This shift demands a rethinking of governance mechanisms, as existing strategies struggle to accommodate the fluid and sometimes contentious nature of AI-driven content production. The challenge lies not only in regulating the technology itself but also in navigating the evolving power dynamics it introduces.

Naturally, the literature on platform governance has addressed this topic. Thereby, platform governance is not a static framework but an ongoing process of negotiation, shaped by the tensions between control and creative freedom. Platform owners experiment with different approaches to integrating GenAI, often shifting between various logics of governance in response to emerging resistance or unexpected outcomes. Complementors—those who contribute content or services to the platform—respond in diverse ways, either pushing back against constraints or adapting their practices to align with new AI-enhanced workflows. This continuous push and pull gradually reshapes both the role of GenAI within the platform and the broader structure of platform governance. In the process, digital ecosystems do not simply adopt AI as a tool; they evolve around it, redefining notions of authorship, ownership, and platform viability.