Software is Eating the World…But at What Cost?

A seasoned software developer with 43 years of experience reflects on Marc Andreessen's famous assertion, "Software is eating the world." Having retired to run two brick-and-mortar businesses, he offers a sobering counterpoint. He details how software companies prioritize profit over user experience, citing examples of exploitative pricing models, poorly designed interfaces, and algorithms designed to create conflict. He argues that the "digital revolution" has become a parasitic force, harming small businesses and eroding human connection, and calls for a re-evaluation of the industry's priorities.