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The "everything app" is making a comeback.Invigorated by AI's capabilities, tech companies are again dusting off their plans for building an app that does everything, reports BI's Hugh Langley.Google and OpenAI recently killed off projects, opting instead to migrate those features into their main offerings. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella even used the term "super app" when describing future plans for Copilot.So what even is a super app? Imagine having multiple services you regularly use — payments, messaging, social media, etc. — all in one place. China's WeChat is widely considered the gold standard, but the concept is common across Southeast Asia.Tech giants aren't necessarily looking to replicate WeChat this time around. This type of super app is about consolidating all the AI tools someone might need in one place. The idea is a more seamless workflow that won't require users to work across multiple apps.Even if it's a new iteration, history hasn't been kind to these types of efforts in the US.The world's richest man hasn't been able to pull it off. Elon Musk teased plans to turn what was then known as Twitter into a super app called X back in 2023. (At least he got half of it right!)
