Notes on AI Apps in 2026

• AI tools must shift from execution to exploration.
  • Models struggle with “what to build” more than “how to build.”
  • Cursor, Google Antigravity leading exploration-first interfaces.
• Coding agents force every org function to go software-first.
  • Marketing, legal, procurement, finance: all must become code-native.
  • Cultural shift harder than operational.
• AI-native apps will specialize and diverge from model labs.
  • Specialized apps win niches without lab-level org conflicts.
  • Domain-specific interface + model combo = durable moat.
• Most consumers still don’t know AI app creation exists.
  • Wabi, ChatGPT image features are the discovery wedge.
• Incumbents: consolidate customer-facing roles via models.
  • Sales, support, collections → unified AI-driven function.

Anish Acharya, a16z General Partner (Consumer) · 2026-01-08 · Read on a16z.com