Is SaaS Dead? | How AI & Vibe-Coding Are Killing the Software Business Model

About This Episode

SaaS built the internet we know — but is the subscription model about to collapse? In this episode, we break down what happens when anyone can vibe-code their own tools, why 99.7% of App Store apps earn under $100, and how AI is shrinking the moat that made software companies billions. They cover the Claude Code stat (4% of all GitHub commits), the AI app slop epidemic flooding the market, why mid-tier SaaS is most at risk, and where the real opportunity lies — niche industries that haven't been touched by tech yet. Plus: agentic marketplaces, why ads are coming to ChatGPT, and the rise of AEO (Agentic Engine Optimization) as the new SEO. Chapters: 0:00 – Intro 0:31 – Welcome & Host Introductions 1:28 – Today's Topic: Is SaaS Still Going to Survive? 2:39 – Stats: 4% of GitHub Commits Written by Claude Code 4:01 – Could AI Write 26% of All Code by 2026? 6:09 – How Claude Code Tracks Its Own Commits 6:37 – 90% of Engineers Now Using AI 6:40 – Only 0.3% of App Store Apps Earn Over $100 7:31 – The AI App Slop Epidemic 9:09 – Building Isn't the Problem — Go-To-Market Is 11:31 – SaaS Isn't Dead — It's Shrunk for Big Tech 13:11 – Switching Costs Protect Big SaaS 13:31 – Mid & Low-Tier SaaS Most at Risk 15:07 – Small Businesses Can Now Vibe-Code Their Own Tools 17:59 – New Alpha: Niche SaaS for Non-Technical Industries 18:59 – The Arbitrage Window: 2–5 Years Before Gen Z Takes Over 20:03 – Agentic SaaS Marketplaces — The Next Wave? 21:10 – If Every App Becomes an API, Does Premium SaaS Die? 22:27 – Ads Coming to ChatGPT 24:27 – AEO: Agentic Engine Optimization Replaces SEO 26:11 – Closing Thoughts & Call to Action