Software Apocalypse or Opportunity? Interview with Braden Dennis, CO-Founder and CEO of Fiscal.ai

Key takeaways

AI is not making software obsolete, but rather enhancing its functionality and usability.
There are significant investment opportunities in the software space, especially during market downturns.
Automation of mundane tasks through AI will redefine the operational landscape and improve productivity.
Maintaining value provision is essential for SaaS companies to sustain pricing power against potential customer negotiation leverage.
There is a pressing need for more AI companies to go public, allowing broader access to invest in future tech.
Investors should approach software investments selectively, considering the long-term viability and innovation of companies.

Summary

Is AI Eating the Software Industry?

Braden Dennis discusses the prevailing narrative around AI's impact on software, presenting the idea that rather than obsolescence, AI is enhancing software capabilities. He emphasizes that significant improvements in software engineering practices and outputs are happening due to AI. Despite concerns about enterprise software's future, he believes there are strong investment opportunities on the horizon.

Identifying Opportunities Amid Software Downturns

Dennis shares insights about the current state of enterprise SaaS, highlighting that the market often overreacts during downturns, creating unique opportunities for savvy investors. He recalls past instances where companies like Cloudflare saw drastic price fluctuations, suggesting a similar pattern may emerge in the coming years.

The Future of Software Solutions: Automation and AI Integration

The conversation shifts to what aspects of software might become obsolete due to increasing AI capabilities. Dennis mentions that tasks such as data entry and other busy work will be streamlined by AI, allowing companies to focus on more essential functions. He advocates for developing internal AI solutions to automate these tasks.

Negotiating Software Pricing Power

A discussion arises around whether existing SaaS tools will lower prices as customers pursue more cost-effective internal solutions. Dennis points out that while customers may have more negotiation leverage due to AI capabilities, companies that can continuously provide value will maintain pricing power.

The Hole in Venture Capital and Public Markets

Dennis expresses concern about the current state of venture capital and the delay in taking promising companies public. He believes this prevents widespread participation in wealth generation from these companies and calls for more AI firms to go public to ensure equitable access to investments.

Evaluating Software Companies in an AI Landscape

Dennis shares his views on well-known software companies, specifically Figma and ServiceNow, discussing their future and the challenges they might face. He encourages a selective approach towards investments, emphasizing the need to evaluate the underlying value and market position of companies.

Show notes

Is AI eating the software industry, or is it just making it more powerful? In this episode, we sit down with Braden Dennis, CEO and co-founder of Fiscal.ai, to discuss the shift happening in enterprise SaaS. If you've watched our videos, you know we use Fiscal's charts every single day to analyze the markets, so it was great to get Braden’s perspective on where the industry is headed. We dive deep into the software apocalypse narrative and whether it’s based in reality or just a market overreaction. Braden explains why maintaining software is getting easier, how his engineering team has achieved 10x productivity, and why internal AI solutions are coming for the "busy work" that off-the-shelf SaaS can't solve. Join us on Discord with Semiconductor Insider, sign up on our website: www.chipstockinvestor.com/membership Supercharge your analysis with AI! Get 15% of your membership with our special link here: https://fiscal.ai/csi/ Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/b1228c12f284/sign-up-landing-page-short-form Chapters:0:00 – Is AI Eating Software? 1:12 – Meet Braden Dennis, CEO of Fiscal.ai 1:45 – Why Software Engineering Has Changed Completely 2:40 – 2026 Outlook: Opportunities vs. Traps 3:30 – What Software is Becoming Obsolete? 4:30 – Automating the "Unsolvable" Internal Busy Work 5:15 – "Intelligence in the Sky": A New Data Layer 6:10 – Pricing Power Debate: Will Clients Pay Less? 7:45 – Broadcom & VMware Case Study8:55 – Comparing the Software Correction to 2018 Semiconductors 11:45 – Lessons on Market Cyclicality 13:55 – The Problem with Late-Stage Venture Capital 16:00 – Why We Need More Tech IPOs 18:10 – The Incentive for Founders to Stay Private 20:00 – Evaluating Figma and Adobe in the AI Age21:30 – ServiceNow: Narrative vs. Financial Reality 22:45 – Final Verdict: Being Selective in a Sell-off If you found this video useful, please make sure to like and subscribe! ********************************************************* Affiliate links that are sprinkled in throughout this video. If something catches your eye and you decide to buy it, we might earn a little coffee money. Thanks for helping us (Kasey) fuel our caffeine addiction! Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal. #AI #SaaS #SoftwareStocks #Investing #ChipStockInvestor #FiscalAI #TechInvesting #ServiceNow #stockmarket2026 Nick and Kasey own shares of Adobe, Figma, ServiceNow