Specialization Is the Future of AI Tools

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Logan Kilpatrick recently tweeted something that’s been on my mind a lot lately:

It’s a simple idea, but it taps into a huge shift happening in AI right now. For years, the goal has been to create general-purpose tools…AI that can do a little bit of everything. But as the technology matures, something interesting is happening: the focus is shifting to tools that feel like they were made just for you.

This shift is about more than user preferences…it’s about how value is being redefined in tech. When it comes to AI, value isn’t just about how powerful a tool is anymore. It’s about how well it integrates into specific workflows and solves specific problems.

Why Specialization Is Taking Over

There are a few reasons why specialized AI tools are becoming more important than ever:

1. General AI feels…well, generic.
A tool that tries to do everything often ends up doing nothing exceptionally well. For example, a general-purpose writing tool might help you draft an email or brainstorm ideas, but it won’t understand the specific requirements of a legal brief or a press release.

→ Specialized tools can go deeper. They understand the unique needs of a domain, like academic research, video editing, or customer support, and deliver solutions that feel more personalized and impactful…and people will pay for that.

2. Specific problems need specific solutions.
A general AI tool might handle 80% of a task, but the last 20%…the domain-specific nuance…is where the real value lies. Solving that last 20% often requires deep expertise in a particular field.

→ Think of video editing. An AI tool designed for general editing might be fine for a YouTuber, but a real estate agent needs something that knows how to optimize lighting for home tours and sync transitions perfectly to walkthroughs.

3. Specialized tools build trust.
People trust tools that feel tailor-made for their needs. If you’re designing for scientists, for example, your tool should understand technical language, data visualization, and the intricacies of academic publishing.

→ Trust comes from users feeling like the tool “gets them.” That’s hard to achieve with a broad, one-size-fits-all solution.

What Specialization Could Look Like

Logan’s tweet hints at what the future of AI tools could look like…domain-specific versions of broad technologies. Imagine tools like these:

• Cursor for Email: AI that doesn’t just draft emails but understands your relationships, priorities, and even how you like to close (“Warm regards” vs. “Best”).

• Cursor for Writing: A writing assistant that adapts to your tone, suggests improvements, and even flags inconsistencies in long-form documents.

• Cursor for Research: An AI that knows how to find and cite peer-reviewed studies, summarize them accurately, and identify gaps in the literature, specific to what you are trying to achieve.

• Cursor for Design: A creative assistant that critiques layouts, suggests better fonts, and ensures everything stays on-brand.

What Builders Can Take From This

For those of us building AI tools, this trend toward specialization opens up huge opportunities. Here’s how to approach it:

1. Pick a niche and go deep.
You don’t need to build a tool for everyone. Focus on solving one specific problem for one specific audience. Instead of building a general chatbot, for example, create one that helps freelance photographers manage client inquiries and scheduling.

2. Spend time with your users.
The best insights come from observing how people work. Talk to your users, watch how they interact with tools, and look for the friction points they might not even notice themselves.

3. Iterate constantly.
Specialization isn’t about getting it right the first time…it’s about continuously improving. Use user feedback to refine your tool and stay ahead of emerging needs in your niche.

The Bigger Picture

We’re entering a new phase of AI development. Success isn’t about building the biggest, flashiest tools…it’s about building tools that matter.

The tools that thrive in this space won’t try to be everything for everyone. They’ll focus on being indispensable for someone.

So here’s the big question: What niche do you think needs its own AI tool? Get in touch and let me know…I’d love to hear your ideas.

Cheers,
Jagger

P.S. If you think this newsletter might help someone you know, feel free to forward it along. Sometimes, the right tool idea starts with the right conversation.

Oh and before I forget…

A new video is out…5 AI tools I thought were quite useful.

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