Declarative Software
How to build AI-First products?
Most "AI-powered" products today aren't genuinely AI-first. They're just traditional apps with an "AI button" awkwardly added. Pete Koomen calls these the "horseless carriages" of our era—new technology, old thinking.
Declarative is the Future
Declarative programming focuses on stating what you want, not how to get there. You say, "Give me the data," and the database figures out how.
Similarly, declarative software lets users express intent clearly, then the software figures out the best way to achieve it.
Software knows a lot about you and the task you want to achieve; it should act like it.
Instead of forcing manual interactions like endless chatbots or clunky workflow builders, declarative software is proactive. It anticipates, prepares, and presents solutions for approval—making life easier, not more complicated.
Workflow Builders Aren’t Agents
Workflow builders (like Zapier) aren't agentic. They’re static, predefined pathways. Declarative software is dynamic:
Intent: State your goal clearly.
Planner: AI figures out the best steps.
Execution: Software handles mundane details automatically.
Feedback Loop: Adjusts as necessary, continuously improving.
In practice
ATS (like hire.inc) might operate like this:
Declare: "Maintain 50 vetted candidates per role."
AI handles sourcing, screening, and outreach.
Recruiters focus on relationships, not admin.
AI-First Means Anticipation, Not Just Automation
True AI-first software isn't reactive—it's predictive and proactive. It understands context deeply enough to anticipate needs, handling tasks intelligently.
A genuinely AI-first calendar won't just help schedule meetings; it will proactively manage your time:
You declare: "Protect my mornings."
It actively reshapes your calendar to guard productive time.
Building the Future
Here's how to shift towards AI-first, declarative software:
Let Users Define Intent: Users explicitly state outcomes, not tasks.
Empower Customization: Allow easy customization of how AI behaves ("System Prompt").
Balance Autonomy: Users choose how much AI handles automatically.
Feedback & Transparency: Provide clear visibility into AI decisions, making adjustments intuitive.
Declarative design lets users steer without constant handholding, keeping them focused on high-value tasks rather than tedious details.