Taste is a Good Compass, Not a Moat
Everyone is currently romanticizing "Taste" as the ultimate AI-era moat. The logic? Since coding is now a commodity, the winner is whoever has the best "eye" for product.
It’s a comforting thought for creators, but it’s probably a trap.
In the old world, "Good Taste" was protected by "Hard Execution." If you built a beautiful UX, it took months for a competitor to copy it. That lag was your moat. Today, AI doesn’t just help you build; it helps others clone. A screenshot and a prompt can replicate a "tasteful" interface or a "tasteful" idea in seconds.
We are entering an era of Product Liquidity. When the technical barrier to entry drops to zero, the aesthetic barrier follows right behind it. If your only advantage is a better vibe or a clever workflow, your moat is as deep as a puddle.
The harsh truth? The only scarcity left is Distribution.
The winner won't be the one with the best "vision," but the one who actually owns the pipe to the user. In a world of infinite, instant clones, the "how" matters less than the "who."
Stop obsessing over the perfect build; start worrying about who’s actually going to see it.
Taste is a compass, not a moat. It helps you find the right direction, but it won't protect your position.
In an era of product liquidity, the ability to build is a commodity, and the ability to design is a signal that anyone can copy.