2026: The year of Not-invented-here syndrome (system32.ai)

In a notable shift, the AI landscape is set to transform by 2026 as advancements in generative models like Opus, Sonnet, GPT-5.2, and Gemini 3 change how organizations approach tool development. Initially skeptical about AI's industry impact, the author now believes that the debate over building versus buying software solutions is evolving. Companies will increasingly prefer to create internal tools tailored to their specific needs, utilizing advanced AI capabilities that significantly lower development costs and reduce time to market. The implications for the AI/ML community are profound. As non-developers, such as product managers and analysts, gain the ability to build sophisticated internal solutions without technical expertise, the adoption of AI in various sectors will accelerate. This environment will foster greater customization and tighter integration with existing systems, likely resulting in a surge of "Not-invented-here" syndrome—where organizations prefer to develop their own solutions rather than opting for off-the-shelf software, thereby promoting innovation and unique applications of AI technologies.