Why haven't we seen an explosion of new start-ups, products or features? Why do we still see hundreds of bug tickets on every issue tracking page? Have you noticed anything different on any changelog?
I invite tptacek, or any other chatbot enthusiast around, to publish project metrics and show some actual numbers.
You're posting this question on a forum hosted by YC. Here's a story from March 2024: "YC’s latest W24 batch includes 240 companies. A significant portion of the companies have some AI component, with 63% tagged as “Artificial Intelligence” — a notable increase from 51% in the preceding S23 batch and 29% before that.". https://jamesin.substack.com/p/analysis-of-ycs-latest-w24-ba...
I've not seen the same analysis for more recent batches.
I categorize that as "an explosion", personally. Do you disagree?
His point is that if AI were so great, loads of NON AI startups would be appearing because the cost to make a company should have dramatically dropped and new opportunities for disruption in existing businesses should be available.
His point is that they aren't.
You pointing at AI startups in YC actually highlights the opposite of what you think it does. People are still looking for the problems for AI to solve, not solving problems with AI.
Your example is actually a bell-weather that there is no great leap forward yet, otherwise the companies delivering real world value would be taking spots in YC from the AI tooling companies. Because they'd be disrupting existing businesses and making lots of money, instead of trying to sell AI tools.
It's like you pointing at the large batches of YC companies doing crypto 5/10 years ago and saying that proves crypto is a game changer and everyone would soon be using crypto in their development.
The YC companies are focused on the AI tool hype, not making money by solving real world problems.