AI as OS Heralds the End of Application Software

Greg Twemlow's article argues that artificial intelligence (AI) will fundamentally transform the software industry, leading to the obsolescence of traditional application software and subscription-based models. This shift, referred to as "AI as the Operating System," suggests that users will articulate problems to AI, which will then generate bespoke solutions in real-time, eliminating the need for pre-built applications. The author introduces the "Problem Definition Architect©" as a new crucial human role, where individuals focus on precisely defining problems and guiding AI with ethical frameworks like the "Personal Ethics Schema (PES) and Personal Ethics Protocol (PEP)©." This transition is predicted to cause a significant economic upheaval in the software sector, particularly in the US, but ultimately lead to a global boom driven by new AI-centric service industries and an "Augmented Perception UI (AP-UI)©" that enhances human decision-making. Read the article.About the Author - Greg Twemlow writes and teaches at the intersection of technology, education, and human judgment. He works with educators and businesses to make AI explainable and assessable in classrooms and boardrooms — to ensure AI users show their process and own their decisions. His cognition protocol, the Context & Critique Rule™, is built on a three-step process: Evidence → Cognition → Discernment — a bridge from what’s scattered to what’s chosen. Context & Critique → Accountable AI™. © 2025 Greg Twemlow. “Context & Critique → Accountable AI” and “Context & Critique Rule” are unregistered trademarks (™).