Boring B2B Software Outperforms AI Tools as Search Trends Shift in 2024

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An analysis of 192 business ideas and 941 Stripe-verified companies found that searches for AI-related products declined sharply in 2024, with 'AI writing tool' down 71% and 'AI agent' down 46% year over year. Meanwhile, searches for unglamorous business software such as fleet management, route planners, and invoice reminder tools rose by up to 50%. Revenue data from TrustMRR, which reads actual Stripe accounts rather than relying on founder self-reporting, showed that service-category companies averaged $22,457 in monthly recurring revenue versus $4,387 for mobile apps. The author argues the decline reflects market saturation rather than disappearing demand, noting that mature categories see fewer new searches as users simply renew existing subscriptions. The findings suggest that entrepreneurs face steeper competition entering crowded AI tool markets than pursuing practical, less-hyped software niches.

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