**The AI Uprising: Will Gadget Giants Upend App Companies?**
As we step into 2026, tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI are racing to create AI-powered devices that promise to revolutionize the way we interact with technology. These gadgets will allegedly make our lives easier by allowing AI assistants to take actions on our behalf without needing to open an app or website. Sounds idyllic, right?
But dig deeper and you’ll see a whole new landscape unfolding. Gone are the days of navigating through cluttered apps filled with ads and upsells. Imagine just asking for a ride and having it booked, or ordering lunch and having it delivered, or restocking paper towels and… poof! They appear out of nowhere!
However, there’s a catch – even a few. First, AI agents are still pretty wonky. They make mistakes, and their accuracy is often lacking. And second, AI-powered operating systems threaten to cut app companies out of the picture. This could be a nightmare for app developers.
Companies like Uber and DoorDash have traditionally relied on keeping customers within their apps, where they can serve ads, upsell services, and build loyalty to keep customers coming back. AI agents might strip away these advantages, making it harder for companies to monetize their services. Even if a customer pays the same price for a DoorDash delivery through a pair of AI glasses, the company might still miss out on opportunities to sell them more services down the line.
Anjney Midha, an investor and board member at Sesame, notes that if companies don’t have “deep control over the provision of their product,” they’ll struggle to operate in a world where they need to reach customers through an AI agent.
But some tech companies are already cautiously optimistic about this shift. Companies like DoorDash, Instacart, and Expedia have signed up to build early versions of AI apps within ChatGPT, while Ticketmaster, Uber, and OpenTable have debuted as early agentic options for Alexa+. This shows that many tech companies are betting on novel app experiences that can be mediated by AI tools.
However, there are roadblocks ahead. Not all app developers are comfortable with the idea of AI agents getting between them and their customers. For example, Rabbit, the startup behind the buzz-worthy R1 system, ran into this issue when major app developers like Uber refused to grant the startup API access that would let the R1 hail rides directly. In consequence, Rabbit built workarounds to let its R1 devices tap into apps like Uber without formal access.
As Amazon and Meta invest in their own shopping agents, the question remains: will AI-powered gadgets lead to a world where app developers are left with little to no control over their own businesses? Only time will tell, but it’s clear that the AI revolution is coming for the tech industry as we know it.
**What do you think about AI-powered gadgets and their potential impact on app developers? Share your thoughts in the comments below!**
