The Next big Democratization

“Custom apps are now just a prompt and no-code block away!” - Richard Seidl

I would like to take a new perspective today. A perspective on the industry in which we operate: technology, software & innovation. A perspective beyond our day-to-day view of our projects. Namely, on a wonderful feature that digitalization has brought us - let’s call it global. Let’s put all the negative consequences since the internet in a box and park them within sight. Just for the moment. Later we can take them out again and deal with them. For the next few lines, let’s leave all the prejudices, data theft, advertising algorithms, smartphone procrastination, cybercrime, etc. in this box and take a look at what has been happening over the last 30 years: Democratization! Thanks to innovations, services and software, we have freed ourselves from being tied to an intermediary or provider in many areas of our lives and gained direct access. As human beings, as citizens of the world.

Examples of democratization

Access to information: In the old days, there were one or two news programs and a handful of daily newspapers. That was our access to current affairs. Today, we have an incredible number of channels, groups, streams, podcasts, broadcasts and blogs where we can find information.

Content Creation: In the past, it was not realistically possible for anyone to operate a radio station. Yes, it was possible as an amateur radio operator, but the reach wasn’t there. Today, I can start a podcast or even a “TV channel” on YouTube with two clicks.

Access to the labor market: We can offer our talents on platforms such as Upwork or Fiverr. Worldwide. I had a very touching experience years ago when I was talking to a designer in the Philippines for a new logo. In the exchange, I learned that these design jobs make it possible for his siblings to go to school.

Access to trade: We can sell our goods directly on marketplaces and platforms and ship them worldwide.

Renting: Through platforms like Airbnb, I can offer my unused junk room to globetrotters and be my own “hotel”.

The next big thing

And now the next wall is falling! Until now, anyone who wanted to develop software or apps had to learn programming. For websites, it has been possible to work with frameworks without programming knowledge for a few years now. But software? Apps for iOS and Android? Something really big is just starting here. Fueled by two movements:

• With ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot and Gemini, I can now generate, improve, expand and extend code (Claude also displays the interface right away)
• New low-code and no-code platforms are constantly coming onto the market

Thanks to these tools and their combination, the democratization of software development is just around the corner! I believe this will change a lot.

Democracy needs responsibility

So now we can open the box we put aside earlier. Let’s take all the trouble back into consideration. Because one thing is clear: the consequence of democracy is that everyone is responsible for what happens to it (pretty agile, isn’t it?). And we can already see today what will happen if we don’t take responsibility: socially, politically and also in our tech bubble.
Nobody is taking this responsibility away from us. Not even AI.