Karpathy’s AI gap, free Adobe clones, and AI’s effect on persistence

AI is fundamentally transforming software development by drastically reducing costs, enabling a shift from monolithic commercial products to more personalized, plentiful, and open-source alternatives. While concerns exist regarding a widening adoption gap—where only a small elite currently leverage frontier AI for autonomous operations—the technology functions as a cognitive exoskeleton that enhances human capability. However, this ease of use risks creating "cognitive debt," as evidenced by studies showing reduced persistence when users rely on AI for quick solutions. Addressing this requires shaping AI tools to foster grit and metacognition rather than passive reliance. Ultimately, the evolution of software demands a reevaluation of intellectual property laws, which currently struggle to balance innovation incentives with the reality of rapidly constructible, AI-generated code.