AI is fundamentally changing how software systems work by internalizing the "middle layer" — the search, filtering, and comparison interfaces users traditionally navigated. Instead of disappearing, these functions are becoming invisible infrastructure that operates behind AI agents. This shift affects where companies compete
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3. What this means for companiesTraffic becomes less tied to visible interfacesThe Doubao phone illustrates how distribution moves upwardFeatures become easier to replicate; infrastructure becomes decisiveGet Chenzhiqing ’s stories in your inboxClaude Cowork as a signal of feature absorptionData matters more — but only if it’s usable by agentsCompetition speeds upSort: