Thomas Paul Mann expects a fundamental shift in how people use software on their computers. The Raycast CEO predicts that within three years, 30 to 50 percent of Mac software could be applications users build themselves.

Mann made the forecast during a Platformer podcast interview discussing Glaze, Raycast's AI-powered app creation platform launched in July. Glaze lets users describe software in plain English and generates functional Mac applications that work offline and can be shared publicly or privately.

"Everybody is a creator now," Mann said, arguing that commercial software has become bloated as companies chase growth by adding features. "What started as a little tool suddenly becomes this glorious massive app that wants to do everything."

The prediction builds on Mann's experience at Raycast, which has attracted hundreds of thousands of daily users with its launcher that replaces macOS Spotlight. Raycast now hosts more than 3,000 open-source extensions, demonstrating appetite for customizable tools.

Why commercial software is failing users

Mann criticized the trajectory of most commercial applications, describing them as compromises that pile on features until they "get more in the way than they actually help." Glaze represents his answer: hyper-personalized software built for "a market of exactly one person."

The platform has already produced unusual creations, including a to-do app that generates superhero images for completed tasks and a posture-monitoring tool using webcam feeds.

Mann also revealed that Glaze Pro subscribers will gain access to language models and image generation "within the next few weeks," eliminating the need for users to plug in their own API keys.

The engineering impact

When asked about AI's effect on software engineering jobs, Mann offered a nuanced view. He argued that junior and senior engineers benefit most from AI tools, while mid-level developers face "a bit of a weird spot" as automation handles routine tasks but still requires expertise for complex problems.

Raycast has raised more than $47 million from investors including Accel, Coatue, and Atomico since emerging from Y Combinator's winter 2020 batch. The company recently announced a $10,000 contest for the best Glaze-built applications.