Scott & Mark Learn To... Are Apps Dead?

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into a wide-ranging conversation about the future of software, debating whether apps are dead in an era of AI agents, chat interfaces, and automation. They explore the resurgence of text-based and terminal user interfaces, the limits of using large language models as stand-ins for deterministic workflows, and why reliability, security, and repeatability still demand traditional applications and SaaS platforms. Along the way, they unpack common misconceptions about AI replacing apps, argue for better UX and APIs instead of throwing AI at broken systems, and emphasize that AI is best used for reasoning and ambiguity, not as a replacement for well-designed software.  

Takeaways:    

• AI tools don’t eliminate the need for well-built apps 
• Chat and terminal interfaces expand, not replace, software 
• Dynamic interfaces blur boundaries, but durable apps still anchor workflows 

Who are they?     

View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn  

View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn   

Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube 

Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts   

Produced by Hangar Studios