Introduction: Why Everyone’s Talking About AI

A few years ago, AI was just a buzzword. Another tech trend destined to make headlines and fade out. But that didn’t happen. Instead, AI has gone from novelty to necessity. It’s no longer just hype—it’s transforming how we work, create, and build.

As a software consultant and indie developer, I’ve seen this shift firsthand. For tech leaders and independent professionals, AI isn’t optional. It’s your competitive edge. Whether you’re experimenting with new tools or still on the sidelines, now’s the time to pay attention.

The Big Picture: AI’s Impact on Work and Creativity

AI is fundamentally changing how we work. Tasks that once took days now take hours. Some take minutes.

This isn’t about replacing people—it’s about evolving how small teams and independent professionals deliver value. From business owners to consultants, we’re starting to use AI as a second brain—amplifying what we already know how to do.

But there are still gray areas. AI models are trained on massive datasets, often without clear licensing. That’s raising serious copyright concerns. Artists, musicians, and writers are pushing back—and rightly so. Legal frameworks like the EU AI Act and U.S. executive orders are still evolving.

Some creatives are rejecting AI tools altogether. Others are leaning in—using Adobe Firefly, Figma AI, and similar tools to speed up workflows without giving up control. That’s the tension: democratizing creation vs. preserving craft.

Are We in an AI Bubble?

Honestly? Probably.

The current AI wave reminds me of the early Internet era. Valuations are wild. OpenAI, Anthropic, and other big players aren’t profitable yet. That won’t last forever.

That said, not all companies are bleeding cash. Some smaller AI startups are doing just fine. They’re lean, focused, and solving real-world problems. Take Turing, for example—an AI data company that tripled its revenue to $300 million in 2024 and reached profitability.

When the bubble bursts, weak models will fold. The rest? They’ll define the next wave of tech innovation.

Big tech gets this. Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, and Apple are pouring billions into AI. They’re not chasing short-term returns—they’re playing to win the next platform shift.

Pricing and Sustainability: The Uber/Airbnb Playbook

OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pro sits at $20/month. That’s become the default price point for consumer-facing AI. Enterprise and team plans run higher, but that $20 has set expectations.

How long will that price stick?

Think back to Uber. In the early days, rides were cheap thanks to VC subsidies. Once Uber went public, prices jumped. Airbnb followed the same path—a cheap alternative that now sometimes costs more than a hotel.

AI pricing feels similar. Today’s prices are artificially low—kept down by competition and subsidized growth.

Efficiency is key to long-term affordability. Companies are racing to:

  • Lower inference and hardware costs
  • Optimize model size and compute
  • Push some work to local devices

Whether prices go up or stay stable will depend on how successful they are. But either way, premium plans and usage-based tiers are coming.

From experience, I still find Uber useful—if I’m flexible with pick-up times and drop-off spots. Airbnb? Less so. Hotels are often the better deal now.

I expect AI pricing to follow that curve. And personally? I’d pay more. Because the time savings alone are worth it.

AI as a Productivity Tool, Not an Automation Replacement

Everyone uses AI differently:

  • Group 1: Full automation (Cursor, aider, replit, vibe coding)
  • Group 2: Augmented productivity (that’s me)
  • Group 3: Skeptics who avoid AI completely

Vibe coding—coined by Andrej Karpathy in 2025—is a prime example of full automation. Developers describe what they want in plain language, and the AI generates working code. It shifts the programmer’s role from writing code to reviewing and refining it.

I use a vibe coding approach for personal projects or quick experiments—it’s fast, creative, and great for getting ideas off the ground. But for production code, I take a more grounded, pragmatic approach and use AI as a productivity booster, not a replacement. There’s no one-size-fits-all—just different tools for different contexts.

Skeptics often say AI isn’t reliable. It hallucinates. It can’t be trusted.

They’re not wrong—but they’re also missing the point.

AI isn’t about perfection. It’s about speed. Like a spell checker or spreadsheet—you still have to review the results, but you get there faster.

I treat AI as an assistant, not a replacement. I’m not handing off the wheel—I’m just moving faster with a co-pilot.

My Workflow: How I Actually Use AI

As an independent software developer and consultant, I wear a lot of hats. I don’t have a product team or a copywriter. So I use AI to fill in the gaps—without giving up control.

Here’s how:

  • Generate quick proofs of concept
  • Try different architecture approaches
  • Solve complex problems like date calculations
  • Polish UI copy including labels, alerts and button actions
  • Get up to speed faster on new industries by reducing the learning curve around domain knowledge

Real Example: Timeframes and Date Math

One of my fitness apps requires generating date intervals (weekly, monthly, etc). That kind of logic used to take me hours of trial and error. Now I describe the problem to AI, get a working version, and refine it. Total game-changer.

Real Example: Learning Case Law

When I started looking into legal document structures for a project, I was totally confused—I’m not a lawyer. But I copied some API data from CourtListener’s documentation into ChatGPT and simply asked what it meant. One question led to another, and within a few hours, I understood the basics—something that would’ve taken me days to figure out on my own.

The Future of Work: Smaller Teams, Bigger Moves

If you’re building a business today, AI isn’t something to fear—it’s something to harness.

Leaders at small companies already have to move fast. With AI, you can ship quicker, test more ideas, and level the playing field.

This isn’t about replacing people. It’s about doing more with less. Smaller teams. Bigger output. Faster learning. AI is the multiplier.

Final Thoughts: Why You Should Start Now

I won’t go back to working without AI. It’s now part of how I build, test, and launch.

For small business owners, consultants, and independent professionals, this is the edge. Competing doesn’t require a large team—just the right tools and a bias toward action.

The earlier you integrate AI into your process, the more leverage you gain. You don’t have to automate everything. Just identify the friction, and use AI to move faster.

Because AI is here to stay. And those who embrace it will lead the next wave of innovation.