18 KiB
Direction 2 Research: AI Coding Agents + Image Generation
Date: November 2, 2025
Direction: Developers using Cursor/Claude Code building web projects
Status: Strong signals discovered - In Progress
🎯 Research Hypothesis
Main Question: Do developers using AI coding agents (Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf) need AI-generated images for their web projects? Are they willing to pay for it?
Sub-questions:
- What is their current workflow for getting images?
- What pain points exist with stock photos?
- Are they willing to pay for image generation services?
- Would MCP integration provide sufficient value?
🟢 STRONG SIGNAL #1: Massive Active User Base Building Real Projects
Summary
Developers are actively using AI coding agents (Cursor, Claude Code) to build production web projects at unprecedented speed. Landing pages in 2 hours, full apps in 1 day, games in 7 days.
Reddit Evidence
Thread 1: App built in ONE DAY
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChatGPTCoding/comments/1f1es5i/cursor_ai_app_completely_build_using_claude/
- Quote: "This is an app I built within a day bootstrapping the whole app using Claude Sonnet and Cursor AI IDE. The app itself is pretty simple."
- Context: Developer bootstrapped entire app using Cursor + Claude Sonnet in single day
Thread 2: Game built in 7 DAYS
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/iOSProgramming/comments/1gjwg9a/i_built_a_game_in_7_days_using_mostly_cursor_ai/
- Quote: "Couldn't find anything similar on the App Store, so classic dev move - 'I'll build it myself!' Decided to go all-in with AI... for this project, I decided to use primarily Cursor with Claude Sonnet model and Sweetpad extension, and holy - it actually worked decently well."
- Context: iOS game developed in 7 days using mostly Cursor AI
Thread 3: Landing page in 2 HOURS
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/SaaS/comments/1lwzpxi/how_i_built_a_beautiful_landing_page_in_2_hours/
- Title: "How I built a beautiful landing page in 2 hours using Claude and Cursor (exact step by step guide)"
- Context: Complete landing page tutorial showing 2-hour build time
Thread 4: Full Backend/API/Frontend for $250
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/SaaS/comments/1kaqtt1/i_built_a_full_backendapifrontend_100_with_ai/
- Quote: "Everything — even the landing page and animations — was made 100% in Cursor."
- Cost: $250 spent, 16h/day work
Thread 5: Non-developers building real apps
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1hgoq79/i_am_sharing_my_tips_to_use_cursorclaude_to/
- Quote: "I've spent over a year learning to code with AI and even made money with my last project. This video is especially for non-coders who want to create apps or web apps using Cursor, Claude, or other AI tools."
- Context: Non-technical users successfully building and monetizing apps
Community Size
- r/cursor - 36K+ members
- r/ClaudeAI - very active
- r/ChatGPTCoding - active coding agent discussions
Interpretation for Banatie
Market size = MASSIVE: Developers building websites/landing pages at scale using AI coding agents. Every project needs images.
🟢 STRONG SIGNAL #2: Current Image Solution = Stock Photos (Unsplash/Pexels)
Summary
Developers primarily use free stock photo services (Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay) for images in AI-generated projects. An MCP server integration already exists connecting Unsplash to Cursor.
Reddit Evidence
Thread 1: Stock Images MCP Server EXISTS
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/SaaS/comments/1mt4cni/stock_images_mcp_server_open_source_search_use/
- Title: "Stock Images MCP Server (Open Source) - Search & Use Images Directly in Cursor"
- Quote: "With this, you can search and use stock images directly inside Cursor from Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay."
- Context: Someone built MCP integration for stock photos - proves demand for image integration in Cursor
Thread 2: Tutorial mentions stock photo sources
- URL: https://rizpabani.medium.com/how-to-build-a-high-converting-marketing-landing-page-in-cursor-no-code-needed-6ccb18950800
- Quote: "Images sourced from open-license repositories (provide direct links)."
- Context: Standard practice in Cursor tutorials
Thread 3: Placeholder strategy in prompts
- URL: https://www.threads.com/@kevin.kernx/post/DGKjpC2KEN5?hl=en
- Quote (from prompt template): "Create a full landingpage with Shadcn, TailwindCSS for my Landingpage Structure. - For images use placeholder - Build the landingpage in @app/page.tsx"
- Context: Developers start with placeholders, then replace manually
Thread 4: Manual image upload workflow
- URL: https://lilys.ai/notes/en/cursor-ai-20251026/how-to-use-cursor-ai-tutorial
- Quote: "Image Upload: Users can upload images, which is great for front-end assets. Figma Integration: Mockups from sites like Figma can be uploaded."
- Context: Manual upload workflow is standard
Interpretation for Banatie
Current solution exists BUT: Stock photos = free but generic. MCP integration exists proving demand for automation. Our opportunity = AI-generated (unique) + MCP (automated) + Enhanced (professional quality).
🟢 STRONG SIGNAL #3: Stock Photos Pain Points - Generic, Overused, Lacks Personality
Summary
Developers and designers consistently complain that free stock photos (Unsplash/Pexels) are overused, generic, and not suitable for client-specific or unique projects. This creates delays and unprofessional look.
Reddit Evidence
Thread 1: Overused since 2019
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/Design/comments/10soolh/tricks_for_search_on_pexels_unsplash/
- Quote: "I find the same images over and over again since 2019, their filters are just insufficient... I'm the only idiot who can't find overused images on those websites."
- Context: Designer frustrated with seeing same stock photos everywhere
Thread 2: Not suitable for client work
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/dedcfe/ysk_about_pexels_a_website_that_provides_free/
- Quote: "Pexels and Unsplash are awesome but they are not really suitable for unique or client specific sites."
- Context: Professionals acknowledge limitation for client work
Thread 3: Generic = No personality
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/web_design/comments/12q7tde/how_can_i_improve_this_landing_page/
- Quote: "It lacks any personality, it may be a generic layout for a generic company that sells generic products."
- Context: Feedback on landing page using generic stock photos
Thread 4: Delays projects for months
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/webdev/comments/1kv7n9u/why_is_the_landing_page_of_every_startup_nowadays/
- Quote: "The problem I run into is team members getting way too hung up on this and delaying the project for months when it could have been quick and easy."
- Context: Image selection becomes bottleneck
Thread 5: Unsplash images used EVERYWHERE
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/web_design/comments/12sqmck/unsplash_still_the_king_or/
- Quote: "Also it doesn't help that every Unsplash image is used EVERYWHERE so if you are doing serious client work, it would seem unprofessional to even consider using Unsplash."
- Context: Professional designers avoid Unsplash for serious work
Interpretation for Banatie
Clear pain points validated:
- Overused - same images across thousands of sites
- Not client-specific - generic content doesn't fit unique brands
- Lacks personality - unprofessional appearance
- Causes delays - teams struggle to find right images
Our value prop: AI-generated = unique, contextual, brand-fitting images that don't appear on competitor sites.
🟢 STRONG SIGNAL #4: Developers Already Pay for AI Tools ($40-50/month Standard)
Summary
Developers using coding agents already pay $20-50/month for multiple AI subscriptions. Willingness to pay for time-saving tools is validated.
Reddit Evidence
Thread 1: Cursor worth it at $20/month
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/cursor/comments/1g6ocfb/is_cursor_pro_worth_the_money/
- Quote: "Yes, 100% worth the subscription fee for anyone who codes on a daily basis."
- Pricing: Cursor Pro = $20/month standard
Thread 2: Multiple subscriptions common
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/cursor/comments/1gvupkc/is_it_worth_it/
- Quote: "I was paying for both ChatGPT subscription and GitHub copilot every month. That's $30 a month. After the cursor free trial, I was so convinced I subscribed to the annual plan ($16 a month). And I've ditched both ChatGPT and Copilot."
- Context: Developer paying $30/mo for multiple tools, switched to Cursor
Thread 3: Time = Money mindset
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/cursor/comments/1i9jnz7/to_people_who_have_cursor_paid_subscription/
- Quote: "It saves me time and it's worth the price."
- Context: Value proposition = time savings
Thread 4: MVPs and short projects
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/developersIndia/comments/1iuodvx/for_those_paying_for_cursor_ide_how_has_been_your/
- Quote: "For MVP (short projects) these AI tools work great."
- Context: Indie developers building MVPs = our target market
Interpretation for Banatie
Developers already comfortable paying $20-50/month for productivity tools. Our price point ($49/mo or $20-50 credits) fits existing spending patterns.
🟢 STRONG SIGNAL #5: Paid MCP Market Exists ($50-5000/month)
Summary
Paid MCP servers are an established business model with pricing ranging from $50/month (indie) to $5,000/month (enterprise). Infrastructure for monetization (Stripe integration, frameworks) already exists.
Reddit Evidence
Thread 1: Paid MCP pricing examples
- URL: https://coincodecap.com/top-7-paid-mcp-servers
- Pricing Examples:
- K2view: $5,000/month (enterprise)
- MindsDB: $750-$3,000+/month (mid-tier)
- Context: Enterprise-grade paid MCP services exist
Thread 2: $50-70/month acceptable for valuable MCP
- URL: https://productagent.substack.com/p/how-i-built-a-free-mcp-server-and
- Quote: "I was about to add another $50-70/month just to connect my AI outputs to my team's tools."
- Context: Developer willing to pay $50-70/mo for valuable integration
Thread 3: Discussion on paid MCP viability
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/mcp/comments/1mbpjr1/is_building_paidpremium_mcp_servers_actually_a/
- Title: "Is building paid/premium MCP servers actually a viable business?"
- Context: Active community discussion about monetizing MCPs
Thread 4: Monetization infrastructure ready
- URL: https://www.golan.ai/ai-news/how-to-build-and-monetize-your-own-mcp-server-with-stripe-and-cloudflare
- Context: Stripe + Cloudflare provide ready infrastructure for paid MCPs
Thread 5: Open-source monetization frameworks
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/mcp/comments/1ls4bl1/how_do_you_monetize_your_mcp_server/
- Mentioned: MonetizedMCP framework, PaidMCP Boilerplate
- Context: Community tools exist for MCP monetization
Interpretation for Banatie
Paid MCP business model validated. Our MCP can be open-source (integration layer) while Banatie API is paid service. Price range $49-99/month fits market expectations for valuable developer tools.
🟡 MEDIUM SIGNAL #6: Some Developers Use Midjourney/DALL-E for Web Projects
Summary
Some developers use AI image generators (Midjourney, DALL-E) for landing pages and web projects, but workflow is manual (Discord for Midjourney, separate tool for DALL-E). Paid plans required for commercial use.
Reddit Evidence
Thread 1: Midjourney prompts for landing pages
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/midjourney/comments/12lspp4/20_prompts_for_landing_pages_and_ui_ux_design/
- Title: "20 Prompts For Landing Pages and UI / UX Design"
- Context: Active usage of Midjourney for web design
Thread 2: Paid plan required for commercial use
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/ecommercemarketing/comments/1jde34l/ai_platform_for_product_mockup_images/
- Quote: "Midjourney (via Discord) - If you're comfortable with prompting, Midjourney can generate hyper-realistic product imagery. You'll need a paid plan for commercial use."
- Pricing: Midjourney = $10-30/month depending on plan
Thread 3: Small business testing AI generators
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/smallbusiness/comments/1i0sehh/ive_tested_all_the_image_generation_tools_for_my/
- Quote: "After putting all three to the test, my personal favorite is MidJourney. If image quality and creative control are your priorities, it's hard to beat."
- Context: Small businesses willing to pay for AI image generation
Interpretation for Banatie
Developers already pay for AI image generation ($10-30/mo for Midjourney). This validates willingness to pay for image generation specifically, not just general AI tools.
🟡 MEDIUM SIGNAL #7: Paid Stock Photos Still Used ($3/image)
Summary
Some developers and agencies pay for premium stock photos from services like Shutterstock, demonstrating willingness to pay for quality images.
Reddit Evidence
Thread 1: Shutterstock pricing
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/marketing/comments/1m9qdr7/shutterstock_license_issue/
- Quote: "10 images per month for approx $30 per month"
- Math: $3 per image from Shutterstock
Thread 2: Startups using Shutterstock
- URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/startups/comments/3to01f/startup_question_who_do_you_guys_use_for_stock/
- Quote: "If you're looking for a quality source for regular use, I use Shutterstock and would definitely recommend them as the best bang for your buck."
- Context: Startups willing to pay for better stock photos
Interpretation for Banatie
Willingness to pay for images validated: $30/month for stock photos shows market exists. Our pricing ($49/mo for AI-generated unique images) is competitive vs premium stock.
⌠WHAT WE DIDN'T FIND (Important Negatives)
1. No Direct Complaints About Lack of AI Image Generation in Coding Agents
What we searched for: Developers complaining "I wish Cursor could generate images"
What we found: ⌠No explicit pain articulated
Why this matters: Pain is IMPLICIT (generic stock photos) not EXPLICIT (need AI generation). We need to educate market that AI-generated = solution to stock photo pain.
2. No Evidence of Manual Midjourney Workflow Pain (Yet)
What we searched for: Complaints about Midjourney Discord workflow, manual downloading
What we found: Limited evidence (need more research)
Why this matters: If Midjourney users are satisfied with manual workflow, our MCP integration advantage is weaker. Need to validate automation value.
3. No Technical Limitations Discussions (Aspect Ratio, Size, Format)
What we searched for: Complaints about stock photo sizes, aspect ratios, optimization
What we found: Generic discussions but not specific to coding agents workflow
Why this matters: Our technical advantages (6 aspect ratios, transformations, CDN) may not be valued if current solutions work well enough.
💡 KEY INSIGHTS & QUESTIONS FOR VALIDATION
Validated Hypotheses:
- ✅ Massive market (coding agents users building web projects)
- ✅ Current solution (stock photos) has pain points (generic, overused)
- ✅ Willingness to pay ($20-50/mo for AI tools, $30/mo for stock photos)
- ✅ MCP integration valued (Stock Images MCP exists, paid MCPs viable)
- ✅ Some use AI generation (Midjourney for $10-30/mo)
Questions Still Needing Validation:
- â“ Would developers pay $49/mo for AI-generated images via MCP?
- â“ Is MCP automation worth premium vs manual Midjourney/DALL-E?
- â“ Do they value technical features (aspect ratios, transformations, CDN)?
- â“ How many images per project? (volume estimation)
- â“ Is "unique vs generic" value prop strong enough to justify premium?
🎯 NEXT RESEARCH STEPS
Priority 1: Midjourney Workflow Pain Points (CRITICAL)
- Search for: Midjourney Discord workflow complaints
- Search for: Manual download/save workflow issues
- Search for: Aspect ratio and sizing problems
- Goal: Validate that automation (MCP) > manual workflow
Priority 2: Willingness to Pay for Images Specifically
- Search for: Budgets for images in web projects
- Search for: "Worth paying for" + images + landing pages
- Goal: Separate general AI spending from image-specific spending
Priority 3: Volume & Usage Patterns
- Search for: How many images per landing page/web app
- Search for: Image replacement frequency during iteration
- Goal: Estimate typical monthly usage (pricing model validation)
Priority 4: Technical Requirements Deep Dive
- Search for: Aspect ratio problems in web development
- Search for: Image optimization workflows
- Search for: CDN usage among indie developers
- Goal: Validate if technical features are valued
📊 Direction 2 Score
Signal Strength: 🟢 Strong (Multiple validated pain points and willingness to pay)
Actionability: 🟢 Clear (MCP integration, AI generation, specific ICP)
Willingness to Pay: 🟢 Strong ($20-50/mo AI tools, $30/mo stock photos, paid MCPs exist)
Strategic Fit: 🟢 Excellent (Aligns with our tech: MCP, AI generation, CDN, transformations)
Overall Assessment: STRONG DIRECTION - Proceed with deeper validation
🔗 Related Research
- Direction 1: Web agencies + client approval (different ICP, similar product)
- Direction 6: Gemini 2.5 Flash specific demand (e-commerce focus)
Status: Strong signals found, needs deeper validation on specific questions
Recommendation: Continue research on Midjourney workflow pain + willingness to pay validation
Next Session: Investigate manual vs MCP workflow preferences
Last Updated: November 2, 2025