Choi In-jun writes about how AI tools are enabling rapid reverse engineering of commercial software, threatening established players like Adobe and Microsoft. Developer Brandon Thomas used AI to replicate features of Adobe's creative suite and Microsoft Office programs, releasing them for free and prompting HSBC to downgrade Adobe's stock rating. A new open-source tool called REA (Reverse Engineer Anything) connects AI coding assistants with specialized reverse engineering tools, dramatically reducing the time and cost needed to analyze and replicate software functionality.
- A Chosun reporter demonstrated that REA could analyze an open-source document editor in ~7 seconds, with AI coding tools then recreating core editing features and a working interface in under 7 minutes total.
- The NSA's Ghidra, a reverse engineering tool hidden for nearly 20 years and released publicly in 2019, previously made analysis impractical due to missing comments and massive code size; AI has largely overcome this barrier.
- A South Korean developer released "Tangle 2026," which can read and edit HWP/HWPX files used by Hancom's Hangul, representing a domestic attempt at AI-driven software replication.
- Opinions in the industry are split: Dutch developer Pieter Levels argues users will build only the features they need rather than pay subscriptions, while Brazilian developer Fábio Akita counters that AI-generated alternatives contain errors and cannot fully replicate complex commercial products.
- South Korea's Copyright Act permits code analysis for compatibility or operational understanding but prohibits using obtained information beyond those purposes, setting the stage for legal disputes as replication attempts increase.
- A Chosun reporter demonstrated that REA could analyze an open-source document editor in ~7 seconds, with AI coding tools then recreating core editing features and a working interface in under 7 minutes total.
- The NSA's Ghidra, a reverse engineering tool hidden for nearly 20 years and released publicly in 2019, previously made analysis impractical due to missing comments and massive code size; AI has largely overcome this barrier.
- A South Korean developer released "Tangle 2026," which can read and edit HWP/HWPX files used by Hancom's Hangul, representing a domestic attempt at AI-driven software replication.
- Opinions in the industry are split: Dutch developer Pieter Levels argues users will build only the features they need rather than pay subscriptions, while Brazilian developer Fábio Akita counters that AI-generated alternatives contain errors and cannot fully replicate complex commercial products.
- South Korea's Copyright Act permits code analysis for compatibility or operational understanding but prohibits using obtained information beyond those purposes, setting the stage for legal disputes as replication attempts increase.
