E70: Building software goes to 0

AI is making software dramatically cheaper to build. But if anyone can generate software, what will customers actually pay for? Willem Himpe and Louis Debaere discuss why implementation, integration, expertise and customer service may become more valuable than the software itself. They explore forward-deployed engineers, AI agents handling customer requests and the risk of building software nobody needs. How AI agents can handle customer requests from start to finish Why small businesses may need forward-deployed engineers The difference between implementation and maintenance Why software expertise still matters The risk of generating products nobody needs How companies may need to reinvent their revenue models Chapters 00:00 AI changes software economics 03:17 When software becomes a commodity 05:03 Technology for a bicycle repair shop 06:39 The forward-deployed engineer 08:22 Implementation versus maintenance 11:47 An AI agent handles a customer request 15:05 The risk of unnecessary software 18:46 Rethinking business models