Building products is easier than ever, knowing what to build is the hard part

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September 8, 2026, 1:35 PM

• •The author says AI tools now let teams generate code, prototype ideas and test software much faster than before.
• •He cites MIT research saying AI has increased the number of new mobile apps, but not user attention at the same rate.
• •The piece argues product intelligence helps teams identify which features users return to, where they abandon workflows and what deserves more investment.
• •It says behavioral data provides stronger evidence than opinions alone because it shows what customers actually do.
• •The author proposes using AI to surface patterns in large sets of product-usage data so teams can prioritize improvements more effectively.

The article argues that AI-assisted development has made software creation dramatically faster, reducing engineering as the main bottleneck in launching products. It says that deciding what to build remains a human judgment problem, especially as more apps compete for limited customer attention. The author contends that behavioral and product intelligence data are essential for judging which features deliver lasting value, where users struggle and when teams should stop investing. He also suggests AI can help analyze large volumes of usage data, but should support rather than replace product decision-making.

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