TheSequence's latest issue discusses a trend: many system and agent capabilities are being productized into cutting-edge models.

Functions that previously required complex logic (tool invocation, multi-step reasoning, state management) are now directly built into the models. What does this mean for independent developers and super individuals?

From technical implementation to domain assets as the moat

Pure technical implementation is no longer a barrier. The real moat is: domain knowledge, data accumulation, and product design.

For example, if you develop vertical domain tools, the value isn't in which model you use, but in what you've accumulated: industry knowledge bases, proprietary decision frameworks, accumulated data, and self-learning mechanisms. Technology will be absorbed by the models, but these assets will not.

The golden age for independent developers, fierce competition

Good news: the barrier to building products has lowered, allowing one person to advance multiple projects simultaneously.

Bad news: everyone's barriers have lowered, making competition more intense. Speed and execution become even more critical.

Don't over-rely on the specific capabilities of a single model

Today's cutting-edge technology might become standard tomorrow. So, maintain flexibility in switching models, decouple core logic from model capabilities. Multi-model collaboration (letting different models do what they excel at) is more robust than betting on a single model.

AI collaboration is a must-have course

It's not about whether AI will replace developers, but about developers who know how to use AI will replace those who don't.

Stronger models are not a bad thing, but be clear: your value isn't in how to use models, but in what you've accumulated, designed, and sedimented.