I Stopped Trying to Build “The Next AI App” and Started Solving One Boring Problem at a Time

2026-07-27 · Source: Artificial Intelligence in Plain English - Medium · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Software Development & Engineering · Depth: Novice, quick

Summary

An editorial analyst shifted focus from developing large-scale AI applications, such as chatbot platforms or AI-powered SaaS, to creating small, specific AI-driven scripts that address "boring problems." This change in strategy proved more successful, as users were willing to pay for tools that saved them immediate time, unlike the author's more ambitious, often unreleased, projects. A practical example is a meeting notes summarizer, a simple script that processes raw transcripts into structured summaries with action items. This tool, despite its simplicity, garnered recurring usage and became a quiet source of income, demonstrating the market's demand for focused, efficient solutions over broad, complex platforms.

Key takeaway

For entrepreneurs or AI product managers aiming to build profitable AI applications, shift your focus from grand, complex platforms to solving specific, "boring" problems. You should identify small, recurring pain points that save users ten minutes daily, as these micro-solutions, like a meeting summarizer, are what people consistently pay for. Prioritize shipping simple, functional tools over endlessly designing ambitious, unreleased projects to generate quiet, steady income.

Key insights

The market values small, specific AI solutions that solve immediate problems over ambitious, generalized platforms.

Principles

• People pay for immediate time savings.
• Small, specific tools generate income.
• Focus on "boring" problems.

Method

Identify a specific, "boring" problem, then develop a small AI script, like a meeting summarizer, to automate its solution, focusing on immediate user value.

In practice

• Build a meeting notes summarizer.
• Create simple forms for AI input.
• Focus on recurring daily tasks.

Topics

• Micro-SaaS
• AI Product Strategy
• Problem-Solving AI
• Meeting Summarization
• Entrepreneurship
• Income Generation

Best for: Product Manager, Entrepreneur, AI Engineer, AI Product Manager

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Artificial Intelligence in Plain English - Medium.