The middle ground is disappearing faster than anyone realizes

I've been thinking about what the world looks like post-AGI, and I keep coming back to the same conclusion: there's going to be no middle ground.

Everything will become either hyper-personalized or hyper-generalized. The companies trying to stay in between are going to get obliterated.

The Current Middle Ground is Dying

Right now, most software tries to be "good enough" for everyone. A project management tool that works okay for marketing teams, okay for development teams, okay for agencies. A CRM that handles most sales processes reasonably well.

That model is about to collapse.

When AGI can build anything instantly, why would you use software that's only "okay" for your specific use case?

The Hyper-Generalized Monopolies

On the other side, you'll have platforms that do everything, like Salesforce or ClickUp - both are aiming to be your entire business operating system.

Post-AGI, this makes even more sense. Why have separate tools for project management, communication, file storage, analytics, and customer management when one platform can do all of it perfectly?

The winner-takes-all platforms will be able to dedicate entire teams to perfecting each core function, as these teams will be leaner and more productive.

Why the Middle Dies

Companies stuck in the middle - trying to serve multiple use cases reasonably well - won't be able to compete on either front.

They're not specialized enough to beat the hyper-personalized solutions in specific niches. They're not comprehensive enough to compete with the everything-platforms.

A "good enough" CRM can't compete with a system built specifically for real estate agents, and it can't compete with a platform that handles CRM, marketing, accounting, and project management all in one place.

The Psychology Behind This

People are getting tired of hearing about new software. They're burnt out from managing dozens of different tools, learning new interfaces, and dealing with the time-sink of demoing new software solutions.

I believe the market will increasingly want one of two things - A tool that's absolutely perfect for their specific situation, or one platform that handles everything so they never have to think about software again.

What This Means for Businesses

If you're building software, you need to pick a side immediately.

Either go all-in on serving one incredibly specific audience better than anyone else ever could, or build a platform that can genuinely replace multiple categories of software.

Don't try to be a "CRM for small businesses." Be a "CRM for boutique marketing agencies that work with e-commerce brands" or be "the only business software small companies need."

The Network Effects Accelerate This

The hyper-generalized platforms will benefit from massive network effects. When everyone in a company uses the same platform for everything, switching becomes impossible.

The hyper-personalized solutions will benefit from community effects. When a tool is built specifically for orthodontists, orthodontists will talk to other orthodontists about it. Word spreads fast in tight communities.

The Personal Prediction

I think the divide is going to be wider than most people expect. We're not talking about slight specialization - we're talking about software that's either completely unusable for 99% of people or completely unnecessary for 99% of use cases.

And honestly? I think this is going to be better for everyone. Instead of dealing with software that kind of works, you'll either get something that's absolutely perfect for you or something that handles everything you need.

The middle ground was always a compromise anyway. Post-AGI, we don't have to compromise anymore.

The real problem we’ll face is software curation - how do I find the perfect software for me and how do I know it will work without spending time testing each option?

That’s where Harbinger comes in.

If your looking for personalized software recommendations and a hands-on integration of AI and automation solutions, contact us for a free automation audit.