Over the past two years, a predominant narrative within the technology sector has emerged: as artificial intelligence revolutionizes software development, attention has become the paramount currency.
This prevailing notion suggested an avalanche of homogenous services—a staggering 47,853rd To-Do list, the centennial AI wearable, and the millionth hydration tracker.
In this expansive ocean of uniformity, marketing, public relations, and viral strategies were expected to become the “rock stars” of this new economic paradigm, vying for the attention of a beleaguered audience in a saturated marketplace.
However, a critical flaw underpins this reasoning.
The assumption was that consumers would remain “users”—quiescent individuals in search of a product within an app marketplace. Yet, what occurs if the democratization of development progresses to a point where the notion of a “target audience” dissipates because everyone simply creates their own tools?
The “Build vs. Buy” Paradigm Shift
In previous eras, the acquisition of software was compelled by exorbitant development costs. For instance, if one were to procure a financial management tool priced at $200 annually, the expense seemed justifiable, as crafting a bespoke alternative would entail extensive weeks of programming, relentless debugging, and financial outlay that could soar into the thousands.
Thus, $200 appeared “affordable” compared to the investment demanded for custom creation.
Nevertheless, as innovations like Cursor, Windsurf, and OpenAI’s Codex drive the cost of development towards zero, this threshold undergoes a substantial transformation.
- A customer support bot priced at $25 annually? Convenience would likely retain its appeal.
- A bookkeeping service seeking $500 for additional account integration? Suddenly, spending half an hour generating a personalized Python script along with a basic user interface could seem a reasonable financial alternative.
When “Adequate” Surpasses “Expert”
The marketing sector pivots on the notion of the “Polish Factor.” Corporations expend millions on user interface, user experience, branding, and endorsements to persuade consumers of their tool’s superiority.
In stark contrast, an individualized, AI-generated service doesn’t necessitate a logo, an eye-catching landing page, or security measures for thousands of users.
It merely must function effectively for one individual. When users develop their own tools, they circumvent the entire marketing funnel:
- No Search: They forgo seeking reviews.
- No Advertisements: They disregard banner clicks.
- No Customer Churn: Should they cease utilization, there’s no “customer success” team appealing for their return. They simply discontinue.
In this paradigm, marketing not only escalates in cost but also becomes irrelevant for a vast array of utility-focused software.
5 Fast Facts: The Emergence of the “Sovereign Developer.”
- The 85% Code Revolution: Recent reports indicate that AI can now manage up to 85% of standard boilerplate code for applications, leaving only the logic—the very aspect users are most adept at addressing.
- The “Unbundling” of SaaS: A burgeoning trend towards “micro-apps” is emerging—singular functionality scripts dismantling the need for bloated $50 monthly subscriptions.
- API Accessibility: With platforms like Replit and Vercel, deploying a tailored solution has evolved from a “weekend project” to a “ten-minute endeavor.”
- The Decline of Feature Creep: Public apps frequently necessitate feature additions to justify pricing. Conversely, personal applications remain lean, incorporating solely what the user actively utilizes.
- Token Deflation: The expense of the required “intelligence” for app development is plummeting by approximately 50% annually, rendering “self-building” progressively more economical.
Analysis: The Viability of the “High-Bar” Product
If basic utility applications are crafted by users themselves, which products will persist in the marketplace? Only those that are impractical to replicate independently.
- Networks: One can construct a personal messaging application, yet establishing a platform boasting 2 billion users (like WhatsApp or Instagram) remains unattainable.
- Hardware Integration: No one can merely “prompt” the emergence of an iPhone at will.
- Advanced Technologies: High-stakes medical diagnostics or intricate legal engines necessitate proprietary data of which a home user lacks access.
As for the rest—the trackers, organizers, and rudimentary calculators—the epoch of the “Customer” is waning. The dawn of the “Creator-User” is upon us. Marketing cannot salvage these enterprises; they are destined to disappear into the hands of those who once procured them.
An innovative entrepreneur with over two decades in the realms of IT, fintech, and blockchain. Specializes in decentralized solutions aimed at revolutionizing freelancing, particularly in navigating traditional finance barriers in developing regions.
Source link: Quasa.io.
