Companies are increasingly replacing simple, functional designs with complex systems that require ongoing support and subscriptions. BMW has implemented a subscription model for features like heated seats, which are installed in the car but can only be accessed after paying a fee.

Kagi Assistant now offers a standalone subscription to reduce confusion for existing users and provide an upgrade path for heavy users. Professional subscribers satisfied with the current limited offering may not experience significant benefits from this change.

Apple's App Store saw 557,000 new app submissions in 2025, a 24% increase from 2024. The reduction in app development costs, from around $50,000 to a weekend project using AI tools like Claude, is driving this surge in submissions.