Comment by JacobiX
1 day ago
In the end, the article says:
> writing functioning application code has grown easier thanks to AI.
> It's getting easier and easier for startups to do stuff.
> Another answer might be to use the fact that software is becoming free and disposable to your advantage.
For me, the logical conclusion here is: don't build a software startup!
Yup. I'm starting to wonder if the startup space has a pretty big blind spot not realizing that how easy it is to build mostly/semi functioning software is not a unique advantage...
I left an AI startup to do tech consulting. What do I do? Build custom AI systems for clients. (Specifically clients that decided against going with startups' solutions.) Sometimes I build it for them, but I prefer to work with their own devs to teach them how to build it.
Fast forward 3+ years and we're going to see more everyday SMBs hiring a dev to just build them the stuff in-house that they were stuck paying vendors for. It won't happen everywhere. Painful enough problems and worthwhile enough solutions probably won't see much of a shift.
But startups that think the market will lap up whatever they have to offer as long as it looks and sounds slick may be in for a rude surprise.
Of course it still makes sense to have a startup. Not because you will ever find a decent enough market. But if you are well connected enough you can find a VC and play with other people’s money for awhile.
You aren’t doing it to get customers, it’s for investors and maybe a decent acquisition
> Fast forward 3+ years and we're going to see more everyday SMBs hiring a dev to just build them the stuff in-house
I don't see this happening. Businesses generally want familiar tools that work reliably with predictable support patterns.