'Disposable apps' are the hot new thing in tech, as AI makes coding easier and quicker

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, Tom Occhino, the Chief Product Officer at Vercel, is at the forefront of a new trend: disposable applications. With over a decade of experience at Meta, where he played a pivotal role in developing React, Occhino has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of AI in software development. Thanks to advancements in AI coding tools, such as Vercel's v0 service, the process of creating software has become significantly easier and faster. This shift has led to the emergence of what are now known as 'throwaway apps.' The concept is simple: due to lower upfront costs and reduced time investment, developers can create apps for short-term use and then discard them when they are no longer needed. Occhino himself has created several of these disposable applications. For instance, one web app helps him tally everyday items, like the number of light switches in his home or desks in Vercel's office. Another app he developed provides real-time location information, which he finds invaluable in his daily life. Despite being labeled as disposable, Occhino emphasizes that he actively uses these tools, thereby challenging the notion of their temporary nature. As the tech industry continues to innovate, the concept of throwaway apps is likely to gain traction, paving the way for a new era of software development that prioritizes agility and efficiency.