I've been thinking a lot about this lately.
Mostly because of how many projects I've personally built that were GOOD, but still didn't really go anywhere.
70% failed. 30% are in high stormy seas.
They were not broken.
They were not useless.
They were just... optional.
So instead of guessing trends, I started looking at why certain tools quietly disappear and why others stick, even if they're boring.
Here's where I've landed for 2026.
This is opinionated and based on my experience. Happy to be wrong. But this is how I'm planning my own builds now.
What I Think Will Work in 2026
1. Tools That Automate Decisions, Not Just Tasks
Automation today is still very "if this, then that". So many ifs and buts. That's fine, but still shallow.
The tools that matter are the ones that decide:
- When something matters
- When to escalate
- When to block
- When to trigger the next step
If your software reduces the number of decisions a human has to make, it becomes hard to remove.
If it only saves a few clicks, it's optional.
That's the math.
2. Software That Lives Inside Real Workflows
Standalone tools are dying quietly.
The stuff that sticks:
- Plugs into existing systems
- Reacts automatically
- Runs in the background
- Doesn't require people to remember to open it
If your product depends on someone logging in regularly to "check" something, you're fighting human nature.
3. Boring, But Regulated and High-Stakes Tools
This took me a while to accept.
The exciting ideas are crowded. The boring ones are ignored.
Compliance, finance, ops, contracts, security, governance... these are annoying problems, but they don't go away.
Even though I kept realizing this, I ignored it because I'm not a subject matter expert in these areas.
But people happily pay for software that:
- Reduces risk
- Avoids mistakes
- Prevents "oh shit" moments
Even if the UI is dull.
4. Systems That Get Better The Longer They Run
Most tools reset every session.
The ones that win will:
- Remember past decisions
- Learn from overrides
- Adapt based on outcomes
- Improve without constant rebuilding
A perfect example: LLMs like ChatGPT and Claude become better every day.
Software without memory doesn't compound.
5. AI as Infrastructure, Not the Headline
AI will be everywhere by default.
The tools that survive won't market themselves as "AI-powered". They'll just quietly use AI where rules fall short.
Here's the test:
- If removing AI breaks your product completely, your tool is a dependency on itself and its existence
- If removing AI makes it worse but still functional, that's healthier
The moment your software takes responsibility, it becomes trusted.
What I Think Won't Work (Or Will Be Very Hard)
1. Standalone AI Tools That Only "Generate Outputs"
Text in → text out.
Even if it's good. Even if it's fast. Even if it's cheap.
If it doesn't connect to anything else or drive action, it's a one-time curiosity.
People try it once and move on.
2. Insight-Only Dashboards
I've built these. They look great.
But "here's what's happening" without:
- "Here's what we're doing"
- "Here's what happens if you don't act"
...doesn't change behavior.
Charts without consequences fade into the background. No one needs them. They get trashed.
3. Tools That Require Constant User Attention
Anything that depends on:
- Daily check-ins
- Manual reviews
- Remembering to come back
...is fragile.
People don't want more software to think about. They want fewer things to worry about.
4. Generic Tools With No Domain Depth
General-purpose tools that are easy to copy and hard to defend.
The deeper the domain, the harder it is to replicate.
"Works for everyone" usually means "perfect for no one."
5. Products That Exist Only Inside Their Own UI
If your product can't:
- Trigger workflows
- Integrate cleanly
- Influence other systems
...it stays isolated.
Isolated tools get replaced. The end.
The Thumb Rule Before Building Your 2026 SaaS
The tools that work in 2026 will:
- Automate decisions, not tasks
- Operate across systems
- Reduce human babysitting
- Enforce rules
- Earn trust over time
The tools that don't will:
- Look impressive
- Feel clever
- Get tried once
- And quietly get trashed
The Bottom Line
Build one tool that fewer people understand at first, but no one wants to remove once it's up and running.
Stop building optional software.
Build essential infrastructure.
P.S. - I'm not saying don't build AI tools. I'm saying don't build tools where AI is the only thing holding it together. Build tools where AI makes an already useful thing even better. That's the difference between a demo and a business.