For the most part of 2025 I took a sabbatical. Renovated the house. Stepped away from digital agencies, computers, building apps, e-commerce platforms. I kept an eye out of course.
I saw a lot of hype about AI. A lot of promise. And a lot of misunderstanding. Talk to any software engineer and they will tell you AI is (still) shit). Yet LLMs captured the imagination, in particular of non-technical people. The [imagination](https://incontext.digital/p/the-two-platform-shifts-and-why-ai) of abstract thinkers, strategical thinkers. The executives.
Dreaming of automatically making stuff, without having to learn any code. Of automating anything. Of rapid prototyping. Halving the cost of digital expenses. The end of SaaS lock-in, and the end of being locked in by those annoying vague and expensive software engineers and development agencies you depend on to run your digital business.
Yet LLMs are flatlining in what extra benefits they give us. Microsoft is in AI trouble, OpenAI has code red, and thanks to Google Nvidia no longer has the monopoly on LLM capable chips. So much investment has been built on this imagination that it is interesting to see if we will end up in an AI bubble in 2026.
But in terms of ‘regular business’ I believe we will see a return to normal in 2026. Of the ‘AI will replace jobs’ hype dying down a little. Of development agencies taking over work, and us continuing as we have always done.
LLMs will go the route of 3D printing. Revolutionary and a gateway technology for sure, but probably one mostly for the ‘backend’ of technology and business. Gradual progress.