This episode of the Leading IT podcast features hosts Josh Rubens (CEO of Empyrean IT) and Tom Leyden (recently transitioning CIO) discussing whether SaaS platforms will become obsolete with the rise of agentic AI.
The main discussion centres on Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s claim that SaaS would “collapse in the AI agent era”. The hosts explored:
- How AI agents could replace traditional SaaS user interfaces
- The evolution from AI assistants to fully autonomous agents handling workflows
- How business logic might shift from SaaS applications to the AI layer
They emphasised that while SaaS platforms won’t disappear entirely, they’ll likely evolve to become backend systems of record with API connectivity to AI agents. Specialised industries with strict compliance requirements will likely be the slowest to transition.
The episode includes a number of recommendations for IT leaders that are navigating these changes.
