The Age of Botification: How AI Is Making Software Human Again

If Marc Andreessen predicted that software would eat the world, then chatbots now represent the evolution poised to take an even bigger bite—a shift that may redefine our interaction with technology forever!

Imagine this: someone walks into a room holding a gleaming new machine that, they claim, can think. Fast-forward a few decades, and that thinking machine has evolved—from a clunky desktop to a sleek, pocket-sized device. Today, it’s not about typing or clicking; it’s about engaging and reasoning through conversation.

AI Chatbots and the Transformation of Technology

What started as an engineer’s dream has transformed into conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI): chatbots designed to engage users in natural, human-like exchanges. AI, or artificial intelligence, refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines, enabling these chatbots to interact with users and solve tasks in a conversational format.

This is what’s set to transform everything we know.

This is the story of software—a journey of human ingenuity and technological leaps leading to a future where chatbots are no longer tools but true collaborators. From the flickering command prompt to chatbots that can think, talk, and reason—join me on a journey through the evolution of software and why AI chatbots will reshape our world.

The Genesis: Software 1.0 – Programs for the Chosen Few

In the beginning, there was the command line. Cryptic, enigmatic, a secret language reserved for a select priesthood of computer scientists, hobbyists, and engineers. Early computers required precise commands fed through clunky keyboards into machines housed in chilled rooms. They were raw in power, but inaccessible.

The magic of software in this era was rooted in pure mathematics, logic, and electricity. There were no windows, no icons—just barebones commands that drove enormous machines, housed in rooms chilled to near-arctic temperatures. Think ENIAC, IBM’s 704, or even the Altair 8800—machines that were marvels of computation but entirely dependent on the minds that wielded them.

In Software 1.0, the domain knowledge belonged to people. An accountant wasn’t just someone with a calculator. They were a professional with paper ledgers, vast amounts of training, and discipline. Software helped, but it was a tool in their hands, not a replacement for their skills. These were the days of programmatic simplicity—when lines of code equaled power and human input meant feeding data into a metal box that could only reflect the knowledge back in basic, rudimentary ways.

Software 2.0: Windows, CDs, and the Desktop Takeover

And then, seemingly overnight, things changed. Command lines gave way to graphic user interfaces or GUI. Bill Gates’ dream—Windows—became the window (quite literally) into our new digital lives. Where once there was text, there were now icons. Clicking replaced typing. You didn’t need to be a magician to make the computer machine dance; all you needed was a mouse. And the mouse became the magic wand for the masses!

The 90s marked the golden era of Software 2.0, defined by the onset of personal computing and the distribution of applications through physical CDs. These CDs were treasures, not unlike precious relics. I remember those CDs—you needed one to install Microsoft Office, and God help you if you lost that license key—that alphanumeric maze was the single thread keeping your software legally afloat.

Software was installed on a local hard drive, and computers were, for the most part, isolated islands of productivity. Sure, you could copy a computer program onto a floppy disk and pass it on to a friend, but piracy was rampant, the user experience was cumbersome, and the limitations were glaring. Your software lived and died with your PC. Lose the computer? Tough luck. Upgrading to a new device? Better dust off that CD collection and hope your new machine still had a disc drive.

Despite all this, Software 2.0 democratized computing. Now, an accountant could buy accounting software to assist with tasks. They still needed domain expertise—you couldn’t just pick up a CD at your local shop and instantly be an accountant—but the tools were more accessible. People started to think differently about the roles software and computers could play in their professional lives. The world started to see software not just as a tool for experts but something that anyone could use.

The Cloud Rises: Software 3.0 and Appification of Everything

Then, the internet happened. Or rather, it bloomed. Slowly at first, but once it became mainstream, once we had enough bandwidth and technology to leverage it, it changed everything. Enter Software 3.0—the cloud era. Software shed its physical form, leaving behind CDs and local hard drives to take flight and live on the internet, in the cloud. We no longer needed to carry around CDs like digital cavemen lugging firewood. Software moved online, freeing itself from the confines of physical media and local hard drives.

I remember Steve Jobs, in his almost theatrical fashion, announcing the beginning of the end for discs by eliminating CD drives from MacBooks. Software was no longer something to be inserted; it was something to be downloaded, subscribed to, and accessed from anywhere. The internet, or rather specifically, the cloud, was the enabler, and Software as a Service (SaaS) became the new normal. Just like how you could access your emails from anywhere in the world on any device, software as SaaS became just that.

Because of the mobile phone revolution, software and websites became apps. Suddenly, we had a plethora of choices. Apps replaced computer programs. The appification of software was in full swing. You didn’t buy an accounting package anymore; you subscribed and downloaded QuickBooks as an app. Instead of an MS Office CD, you downloaded Excel and Word as apps, or logged into Microsoft Office 365. You could be an accountant anywhere, on any device, at any time. The concept of ownership was replaced by access—no more license keys to lose, no more updates to manually install, just automatic improvements appearing like magic in the background.

With Software 3.0, apps became an extension of ourselves. It’s like Apple and Android reached into our brains, discovered our innermost desires, and created an app for each one. Need to know how many steps you took today? There’s an app for that. Want to manage your expenses? App for that too. Everything we once did in the physical world began morphing into apps. Fitness trainers, grocery shopping, personal finance—all lived behind those tiny glass rectangles.

Software 4.0: The Rise of the Bots and the Era of Conversations

And now, here we are—software is on the cusp of yet another evolution and on the brink of another transformation. Today, we stand on the edge of Software 4.0, where conversational AI drives a fundamental shift in how we engage with technology. Chatbots are evolving beyond static rules; they are becoming capable of reasoning and personalizing responses based on the user’s context. These AI-driven chatbots could soon be as integral as mobile phones, operating as personal assistants, advisors, and even shopping agents.

Under Software 1.0 and 2.0, businesses were simply buyers and users of software and machines, replacing people who couldn’t keep up – the dinosaurs. Then, under Software 3.0, companies transformed their websites and software into apps that could be downloaded and used. But Software 4.0 will require every business to have a chatbot—a chatbot that knows all of its business, offers customer support, helps them sell more products, and allows people to get the most out of what the business offers.

I am convinced that just as at some point every business had to have a website, a presence online, in the very near future, every website and business will exist as a chatbot entirely or partly.

Maybe you are not convinced because of all the hype surrounding AI and chatbots. I understand this. Besides chatbots are not entirely new, we have always had them (sort of) but they were not as smart, they just followed a bunch of rules and often times would just do that and nothing more. But do you remember when Facebook once almost become non-existent? When they almost had their One to Zero moment?

There was a time when Facebook was simply a desktop software (it seems like this was decades or internet centuries ago!)—a website people accessed on their computers. It is hard to even fathom it now but yes, Facebook once existed only on a desktop PC (or your laptop). At the time, it was revolutionary in connecting people, yet it existed firmly within the bounds of a desktop PC environment. Then came an existential threat: the mobile phone revolution. Facebook saw the shift coming, and instead of being complacent, they transformed their entire business overnight (they even did this prior to their IPO!). They embraced mobile with full force, re-engineering themselves into an app-first company.

What happened next has gone down in Facebook lore. In early 2012, Zuckerberg redirected the entire company to focus on mobile. He all but abandoned his laptop and started working primarily from a mobile device. Product managers disabled their own desktop versions of Facebook, forcing themselves to use the mobile version instead. In meetings, Zuckerberg expected employees to present the mobile version of new products first. If they didn’t, the meeting was over. Facebook hired new iOS and Android engineers, held week-long bootcamps to get their existing employees up to speed, and embedded mobile engineers onto every product team at the company.

– Vox

It’s easy to overlook just how pivotal that moment was, but today, Facebook (or Meta) is essentially a trillion-dollar mobile app! That strategic pivot not only saved them from irrelevance but catapulted them into becoming one of the most dominant tech companies in the world.

Now, consider what we’re seeing with chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Claude from Anthropic, and other conversational AIs. Just as the world moved from desktop to mobile, we are moving into an era where conversational AI is becoming a new way to interact with software technology. In the not-so-distant future, these chatbots won’t just be tools—they will be platforms, ecosystems, and ultimately businesses valued in the trillions of dollars. Imagine a chatbot that doesn’t just answer questions but seamlessly becomes your personal assistant, your business agent, your gateway to the internet, your shopping concierge, your therapist, and your business consultant, all rolled into one.

The potential is immense. The ability to understand natural language and respond with contextually relevant, nuanced answers changes how we relate to technology. Conversational AIs via chatbots could soon be as integral to our lives as mobile phones have become—a constant presence, anticipating our needs, solving our problems, even managing the mundane aspects of life that we rarely think about. The companies behind these AI chatbots are on the brink of something massive, akin to Facebook’s transformation into a mobile-first giant.

Imagine a trillion-dollar chatbot that grows not just by answering questions but by hosting entire marketplaces within it, connecting people, and even enabling entirely new forms of commerce. It will create industries, revolutionize customer service, education, content creation, and every aspect of our digital interactions. Much like Facebook’s shift to mobile turned it into an app for everything—socializing, media consumption, business—chatbots have the potential to become the central hub for our digital experiences. We are on the cusp of witnessing one of these AI platforms emerging as the next big evolution in tech: a trillion-dollar business, not made for a desktop or mobile, but for conversations themselves.

I know this too well that not every app or software can be turned into a chatbot—think games like World of Warcraft or Fortnight or complex design software from Adobe and the like. These types of software require a depth of interaction and user control that doesn’t translate well into conversational AI. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be impacted. Every business, regardless of the software they rely on, will still need a chatbot. Whether it’s for customer service, customer success, sales, or simply providing knowledge, chatbots will be integral to a business’s operations and strategy. So next time you are using Adobe or playing Fortnight, a chatbot, more like an assistant could be helping you learn new tricks or helping you design better logos.

From Apps to Chatbots: A Transformation in Software Interaction

If Software 3.0 was about accessibility, Software 4.0 is about personality. We are entering an era where our software doesn’t just take commands, it talks back! It thinks, reasons, and collaborates with us—and it’s driven by AI.

I call it botification of everything—where everything is becoming a chatbot. Instead of a passive tool that waits for you to enter data, these chatbots actively gather it. They chat with you, understand your needs, and leverage AI to provide solutions you didn’t even know you needed. It’s the kind of software evolution that shifts the relationship between humans and machines into an even deeper partnership.

Interestingly, this concept of botification aligns closely with what the Times of India recently discussed in their article on “The Agent League”—a future where multiple agent systems will rule the world. In that article, they refer to “agents” which, in essence, are highly specialized and versatile AI chatbots designed to work seamlessly in a multi-agent ecosystem. These agents could perform everything from managing traffic in a smart city to handling patient care in healthcare environments, all under the orchestration of something called “Agent Ops.” This “Agent Ops” serves as the guiding hand, harmonizing the efforts of these diverse agents to ensure efficiency and resilience in the system. It’s an incredible vision of what could be achieved when multiple chatbots—or agents—work in unison, much like an orchestra under the guidance of a conductor.

Let’s take QuickBooks again, for example. In Software 4.0, it’s no longer just an app you open to input figures. Now, it is a QuickBooks chatbot, a conversational AI chatbot that not only keeps track of the numbers but has the capacity to chat with your other AI chatbots. Want to reconcile bank transactions? The QuickBooks chatbot will seamlessly chat with your bank chatbot, pull in transactions, and present you with a detailed financial overview—in response to a simple question like, “How’s business looking this month?”

In Software 4.0, chatbots become digital employees or as Salesforces’ Marc Benioff calls them “AI Agents”—an accountant, an analyst, a virtual assistant—not by simply being programmed with rules, but by reasoning and collaborating. These chatbots can draw data from everywhere they’re authorised, synthesize that information, and turn it into actionable insights. They’re collaborative partners in a way that’s unprecedented.

And here’s where OpenAI comes into play. OpenAI is or should position itself as the operating system (OS) for these chatbots, the invisible but omnipresent infrastructure upon which botified experiences will be built. Imagine a future where OpenAI’s GPT Store, much like an app store, is your gateway to an entire ecosystem of conversational chatbots. You won’t just download an app; you will enable a chatbot that can autonomously handle tasks, integrate with other chatbots, and offer nuanced solutions across different domains and industries.

Let me paint a picture for you: I imagine myself getting ready for a business trip. I open ChatGPT and say, “Book me a ride to the airport.” ChatGPT call up the Uber chatbot—specially crafted to handle all ride-sharing nuances. I interact briefly with the Uber chatbot, and my Uber ride is on its way. As I get closer to the airport, the airline chatbot kicks in, talks to me while it is checking me into my flight, verifying my luggage requirements, helping me choose my meals, recommending and selecting the movies I want to watch and ensuring that all my travel details are sorted. Once I’m on board, a Starlink chatbot offers me seamless internet access for my journey. And as I land, my Airbnb chatbot has already checked me in since I had already told it that I am about to land. The Airbnb chatbot would have already set the thermostat to my liking, and left me a list of local recommendations that my TripAdvisor chatbot has conveniently curated based on my interests.

I can also imagine in the future that each of us will have our own personal chatbot as an assistant. You’ll spend time getting to know your chatbot—learning what it can do, discovering the ways it can help you. Then, you’ll customize it to talk and act like you would, effectively turning it into an extension of yourself. This personalized chatbot will make you incredibly powerful and productive. Imagine a version of yourself that is available 24/7, handling tasks, setting up reminders, analyzing data, and always working to make your life easier.

This isn’t just some far-off dream. This is where we’re headed, and OpenAI is setting the stage to make this reality come alive. Chatbots for travel, chatbots for finance, chatbots for personal productivity, all orchestrated by a central, conversational OS—OpenAI’s GPT platform.

Appification vs Botification: A Comparative Tale

It’s useful here to compare what appification did versus what botification promises. Appification—turning everything into an app—made software ubiquitous, but it didn’t make it truly intelligent. Apps are efficient, yes, but they’re still rigid in their use-cases and workflows. You still had to know what you wanted, when you wanted it, and how to navigate it. Apps broke down barriers to access but did not fundamentally transform how we engage with technology.

Chatbots, on the other hand, are poised to be truly transformative. With chatbots powered by AI, we move beyond passive interaction—we get into the realm of active collaboration. Think of this as a conversation rather than a point-and-click task. Imagine the simplicity: “Hey QuickBooks, prepare my quarterly report and suggest areas to optimise my expenses.” The chatbot doesn’t just provide the numbers—it’s capable of looking at the bigger picture and giving you data-driven suggestions.

In this world of botification, domain knowledge isn’t just buried in some code—it’s there to be drawn out through conversation. It’s democratized to a point where people without specialised knowledge can derive meaning and make informed decisions just by chatting. It’s as if technology is now wrapping itself around our most basic form of communication—language—to empower us, humans, in unprecedented ways.

Is OpenAI’s ChatGPT the Killer Bot or?

The concept of a “killer app” is crucial here. On Wikipedia, a ‘killer app’ is defined as any software that is so necessary or desirable that it proves the core value of some larger technology, such as its host computer hardware, video game console, software platform, or operating system. A killer app is the app that gets people to buy the host platform just to access that app, possibly substantially increasing sales of its host platform-this was the case with Apple iPhones, there were so many killer apps that got people to buy the Apple Iphone, and ironically the killer apps literally killed the Blackberry phone!

Nokia had the snake game, while Microsoft Windows had Microsoft Office.

The idea is simple: for any new technology to gain mass popularity, it needs something to drive users toward it, something that embodies its potential in a way that’s undeniable. For AI chatbots and botification, we are still searching for that killer chatbot—something so compelling that it becomes indispensable. Perhaps OpenAI’s ChatGPT is that killer bot, or perhaps the killer chatbot is yet to emerge, but once it does, it will bring the masses into this new era.

AI Chatbots in Mental Health: A Case Study

Artificial intelligence has been making its mark across industries in the two years since ChatGPT launched, and mental health is no exception. Historically underfunded and inaccessible for many, the mental health landscape is transforming with the rise of AI-powered platforms that offer more accessible, efficient, and affordable treatment options.

For many, traditional therapy can be difficult to access. In the U.S., the average cost of a therapy session can range between $100 and $200—well beyond reach for many. Even with access, wait times can stretch on for weeks. Enter AI therapy platforms, which are often more scalable and cost-effective.

Chatbots from companies like Woebot, Wysa, Tess, and Replika use natural language processing to provide emotional support and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques without the stigma associated with traditional therapy. These AI-driven chatbots are making therapy more accessible, especially for individuals who cannot afford traditional therapy or face long waiting times for appointments. With just a smartphone, people can tap into therapy-like conversations, bridging the gap in mental health services.

The U.S. and U.K. have adopted government-backed initiatives leveraging AI for predictive analytics and early diagnoses of mental health disorders, while firms like Singapore’s Intellect and Kenya’s Wazi are scaling AI-driven mental health services to underserved areas.

These examples from mental healthcare illustrate what the future of chatbots looks like: adaptable, always-available, and increasingly central to industries previously untouched by AI

The implications of this chatbot revolution are staggering. Just as AI chatbots are making mental health services accessible globally, providing support that previously required human professionals, we can imagine similar applications across every single domain. Chatbots can bridge the gap between what’s available and what’s needed—whether it’s personalized guidance, automated diagnostics, or simply being an always-there assistant to help with questions and tasks.

This type of active engagement—transforming passive information into personalized action—demonstrates what Software 4.0 truly promises: accessibility, intelligence, and empowerment through conversation. As Jessica Jackson from the American Psychiatric Association said, “If people can’t afford therapy, we can’t stop them from logging on to a computer and talking to a chatbot.” This is the power of chatbots: making critical services available anytime, anywhere, without barriers.

When I talk about every domain, I mean EVERY domain! For example, how can chatbots change the way we read books?

Now, imagine a Harry Potter chatbot. Not only would it give you a narration of the story, but it could answer all your questions about the Wizarding World—explain plot points, provide backstory, or dive into details about the characters. Imagine if, while reading, you could ask, “Why is Harry considered a half-blood?” or “How did Harry survive the Killing Curse if it was able to destroy the horcrux in him?” and the chatbot would give you an elaborate answer, complete with references from the entire book series. It would be like having J.K. Rowling herself on speed dial!

Or think of an Atomic Habits chatbot—a chatbot that doesn’t just summarize the book by James Clear, but helps you practically implement its advice. You tell the Atomi Habits chatbot about your habits, your struggles, your goals, and it gives you a tailored plan, guides you step-by-step, and checks in with you regularly. No more needing workbooks or journals—the chatbot does it all, evolving with your progress.

(This is a shameless plug!) This is precisely what I am doing with my book about marketing on the internet, Clickonomics. There is now a Clickonomics chatbot—a chatbot on the GPT store that has all the knowledge about Clickonomics and about digital marketing and can answer any questions, but most importantly, it will help you not only learn about Digital Marketing from a Clickonomics point of view but also help you implement my new marketing frameworks and tools such as Customer Ikigai, Simba’s Five Forces, and Simba’s Content Matrix. Imagine you’ve just read about Customer Ikigai. You have a few questions, so you ask the Clickonomics chatbot. After clarifying everything for you, you then ask it to create a Customer Ikigai profile for your target audience. The chatbot analyses the information you provide—or even researches additional data—and finds overlaps. It then suggests content that will grab attention, tells you where to post it, and recommends the best tools to use. It’s practical implementation, conversation, and creativity—all bundled together.

The Future is a Conversation Away

As we stand on the precipice of this next evolution in software, one thing is clear—Software 4.0 will fundamentally change how we think about work, productivity, and technology. It’s the culmination of everything that came before: the computation of Software 1.0, the accessibility of Software 2.0, the cloud-enabled freedom of Software 3.0, and now, the intelligence and collaboration of Software 4.0.

In a not-too-distant future, chatbots will handle everything from complex workflows to mundane day-to-day tasks. Imagine a world where instead of navigating through fifteen screens to complete a business transaction, you simply tell your chatbot, “Hey, can you finalise that deal with Acme Corp and send them the updated contract?” The chatbots will take care of the minutiae, freeing you to focus on creativity, strategy, and what makes you human.

It’s no longer just about typing, swiping, or clicking. We’re heading into a world where technology listens, learns, and responds – we will be talking and chatting with software! The silent typewriters have given way to machines that understand. The cold interfaces are being replaced by warm, engaging conversations.

Software started as a tool—one that gave its users an edge in efficiency. Now, it’s a partner. And if the past is any indication, the future of software won’t just be revolutionary; it will be breathtakingly simple. A few words. A casual conversation. And everything happens behind the scenes. After all, isn’t that what progress is all about? Making the impossible seem effortless.

So here’s to the chatbots, the next evolution of software, to the future where human potential and artificial intelligence meld seamlessly. It’s a story that began with commands and is now culminating in conversations—and what a conversation it’s going to be. But how will businesses cope under Software 4.0?

Under Software 1.0 and 2.0, businesses were simply buyers of software, replacing people who couldn’t keep up. Then, under Software 3.0, companies transformed their websites into apps that could be downloaded and used. But Software 4.0 will require every business to have a chatbot—a chatbot that knows all of its business, offers customer support, helps them sell more products, and allows people to get the most out of what the business offers.

As I have said before, in the near future, every business and every website will have a chatbot, and dare I say it, most websites and businesses will exist as a chatbot. Imagine a customer visiting a company online—not to browse static pages or download an app like we do now, but to interact directly with a chatbot that embodies the entire business. The chatbot will be the business (which reminds me of a famous lyric from Jay-Z in Kanye West’s ‘Blood Diamonds’ song where he said “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, MAN!”) chatbots will be the business, your entire business in a chatbot, available 24/7, answering questions, handling transactions, and offering personalised insights. Chatbots will be the face, heart, and soul of businesses, providing an interactive and conversational experience like never before.