Why Every AI Code Editor Has Become the Same Product

All leading AI coding agents—Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Aider, and others—now deliver nearly identical features (multi-file editing, autonomous agent mode, terminal integration) powered by the same underlying models. With functional convergence nearly complete, the real competitive battleground has shifted from code quality to workflow integration and developer lock-in. This transformation reveals that in mature software markets, controlling user habits matters far more than superior technology.