Ep. 115 - SaaS Is Under Fire: Who Survives the AI Shift, and Why It Matters for Services Leaders w/ Michael Speranza episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 16, 2026 · 30 MIN

Ep. 115 - SaaS Is Under Fire: Who Survives the AI Shift, and Why It Matters for Services Leaders w/ Michael Speranza

from The Professional Services Pursuit

AI isn’t just disrupting SaaS, it’s forcing a fundamental rethink of what software is actually worth. In this episode, Brent sits down with Kantata CEO Michael Speranza to unpack the growing tension across the market: buyers questioning why they should pay for software they think AI can build, and boards pushing leaders to prove long-term, defensible value. The conversation goes beyond the hype to explore what truly survives in an AI-driven world, and why the future of SaaS has far less to do with code and far more to do with context.Key Topics CoveredThe new “build vs. buy” reality: Why buyers are questioning SaaS in the age of AI, and where that thinking falls shortWho’s actually at risk: The types of SaaS companies most vulnerable in this shift (and why)The death of code as a moat: How value is moving from product to data, workflows, and domain expertiseContext as the new advantage: Why owning deep customer understanding is becoming the ultimate differentiatorWhat survives — and wins: The traits of SaaS companies that will endure and thrive in an AI-driven marketRead Michael’s recent article, AI Is Coming for SaaS. Just Not the Way You Think to learn more about this topic and his perspective on the SaaSpocalypse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI isn’t just disrupting SaaS, it’s forcing a fundamental rethink of what software is actually worth. In this episode, Brent sits down with Kantata CEO Michael Speranza to unpack the growing tension across the market: buyers questioning why they should pay for software they think AI can build, and boards pushing leaders to prove long-term, defensible value. The conversation goes beyond the hype to explore what truly survives in an AI-driven world, and why the future of SaaS has far less to do with code and far more to do with context.Key Topics CoveredThe new “build vs. buy” reality: Why buyers are questioning SaaS in the age of AI, and where that thinking falls shortWho’s actually at risk: The types of SaaS companies most vulnerable in this shift (and why)The death of code as a moat: How value is moving from product to data, workflows, and domain expertiseContext as the new advantage: Why owning deep customer understanding is becoming the ultimate differentiatorWhat survives — and wins: The traits of SaaS companies that will endure and thrive in an AI-driven marketRead Michael’s recent article, AI Is Coming for SaaS. Just Not the Way You Think to learn more about this topic and his perspective on the SaaSpocalypse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Ep. 115 - SaaS Is Under Fire: Who Survives the AI Shift, and Why It Matters for Services Leaders w/ Michael Speranza

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This episode was published on April 16, 2026.

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AI isn’t just disrupting SaaS, it’s forcing a fundamental rethink of what software is actually worth. In this episode, Brent sits down with Kantata CEO Michael Speranza to unpack the growing tension across the market: buyers questioning why they...

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