The author, a seasoned app developer, reflects on the evolution of mobile development from native iOS and Android apps to cross-platform solutions like React Native and Flutter. The author notes that these frameworks have made it easier to develop apps but still require significant boilerplate code and custom implementation for optimal performance and quality. However, with advancements in AI-powered tools and frameworks like Flutter, which draws UI components itself, the development process is becoming more streamlined and efficient. The author believes that native apps are now mostly obsolete, except for specific native features, and that cross-platform solutions will dominate the future of mobile development.