A debate over whether AI will squeeze out software-as-a-service companies has resurfaced, intensifying after second-quarter results from major global SaaS firms. While growth has not collapsed, many companies face pressure in valuations and share prices, with some reporting sharp declines. The Wall Street Journal cited acquisitions and restructuring among private firms and warned that SaaS providers that fail to adapt to AI could weaken. Interest is rising in SaaS firms using AI to boost efficiency and profitability.

U.S. software shares swung sharply this week as fears grew that AI could erode the value of existing software products. CNBC reported that a cut-price sale of Airtable and steep post-earnings drops in HubSpot, Datadog and Figma helped revive the so-called “Saaspocalypse” debate. Wall Street concerns centre on coding tools such as OpenAI Codex and Anthropic Claude Code. Some stocks later rebounded after results.