The most significant shift we are witnessing in the AI space ahead of 2026 is that it no longer takes a degree in machine learning and computer science to develop AI products – now the layperson can do it too.
The productivity gains offered by AI are something that no business wants to miss out on. While back at our San Francisco offices, our founder observed a common phrase being thrown around the tech community: “every business is becoming a software company”. This means that virtually no businesses in the modern era can survive without using some kind of software. Given this, it is essential that every person in a company, from business-minded execs, system architects and engineers, to marketing strategists and interns, will need to be productive in developing AI tooling.
Our founder put it like this: “the ‘developer’ could be a kid at school, a grandmother, somebody working in business, or someone wanting to do their job better”. The number-one priority for AI product developers going ahead is to facilitate this shift. Forward-thinkers have identified that the number-one hindrance to getting the layperson to participate is ‘friction’ — the amount of cognitive load it takes to use an AI tool. The more friction, the further your product will sink into irrelevance.
In a user experience without friction, the job of AI becomes carrying the mental burden a user normally holds in working memory. Reducing friction enables the users of AI products to enter a ‘flow state’ — a state of deep focus, effortless action and most importantly, creativity.
Watch this space for weekly insights from our team!
