"recognizing cats" isn't a product at all - the AI behind it is the product, albeit barebones. I've heard folk on HN call such a thing an "MVP".
> By "the hard work of bringing a product to market", I meant the process of perfecting the product for actual applications
I'll have to disagree - "perfecting the product" is one of many roles required to bring a product to market. Other roles that are just as important are "dreamer/visionary", "practical starter/founder", "scale-up person". Sometimes one person can assume multiple roles, but rarely all roles, all of them are hard work.