NetSuite founder Evan Goldberg said that generative AI is reshaping the software-as-a-service model rather than making it obsolete [1].

This shift matters because enterprise software is the backbone of global business operations. If the SaaS model fails, it would force a fundamental restructuring of how companies buy, deploy, and pay for the tools they use to manage their data.

During an interview with CNBC TV18, Goldberg addressed the ongoing industry debate regarding the viability of the current software model. Some industry leaders have suggested the era of SaaS is over, including Palantir CEO Alex Karp, who said the model was dead during a panel on April 30, 2025 [2].

Goldberg offered a different perspective on the transition. "Is SaaS (Software‑As‑A‑Service) dead? Maybe that's an exaggeration," Goldberg said [1]. He suggested that while the delivery method and the way users interact with software are changing, the core utility of providing software as a service remains relevant.

The integration of AI allows software to move beyond static dashboards and manual data entry. Goldberg said that the ability for software to automate complex tasks and provide intelligent insights is changing the value proposition for customers.

According to Goldberg, the primary differentiator for companies in this new era will not be the technology itself, but the speed of organizational change. "The winners won't be the loudest AI companies. They'll be the ones that reinvent themselves fastest," Goldberg said [1].

This evolution suggests a transition toward more autonomous systems that can operate with less human intervention. Rather than replacing the subscription-based cloud model, AI is becoming a layer that enhances the efficiency, and capability, of those existing platforms.

“The winners won't be the loudest AI companies. They'll be the ones that reinvent themselves fastest.”

The tension between Goldberg's and Karp's views reflects a broader industry struggle to define the 'post-AI' business model. If software becomes an autonomous agent that delivers a result rather than a tool for a human to use, the traditional per-seat subscription pricing of SaaS may become obsolete, even if the cloud-based delivery system survives.