The Age of Infinite Software

I am most definitely not the first person to mention this, but the past year has seen a Cambrian explosion of two things: AI deniers who base their judgement on very limited exposure (or effort to use it) and thousands of variations on software of all kinds, from the perennial to-do list to AI-infused toothpicks. Which, let’s face it, is a bit much. It’s bad enough to go on social media and be pitched things I don’t need, but the hypefest around new startups hawking their wares to fill hitherto undiscovered “problems” in increasingly pointless sub-niches is a bit much too. I find the entrepreneurial energy heartening, but most of them solve no real problems whatsoever. I mean, how many code editors can you have anyway? And workflow engines? And CRM pipelines? There is a dizzying amount of almost-identical AI-driven solutions out there trying to land the ideal five-word VC catchphrase, and it’s just tiresome at this point. Plus if you take the long view, most of them are completely…