Is SaaS really dead? Dharmesh Shah from HubSpot on AI, Vibe-Coding & the Future of Work
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Is SaaS really dead? Dharmesh Shah from HubSpot on AI, Vibe-Coding & the Future of Work

55:21 Feb 12, 2026
About this episode
Is SaaS about to be replaced by people “vibe-coding” their own apps — or is something deeper at stake? Dharmesh Shah, co-founder and CTO of HubSpot, joins Wade to cut through the hype and give a refreshingly practical view of how companies should show up for AI.Dharmesh argues the right question isn’t “How do I compete against AI?” but “How do I compete with AI?” — and explains how culture, curiosity, and a little bit of tinkering unlock real value. From practical starting points for SMBs, to why large SaaS vendors still have a massive advantage, to the power of simulation and retrieval-augmented workflows, this episode maps out what leaders and teams should actually do next.In this episode you’ll hear:Why “compete with AI” beats “compete against AI.”The rituals that help organizations adopt AI (hackathons, demos, and scheduled retries).Low-risk starting points: creation ? synthesis ? automation ? simulation.Why large SaaS companies likely aren’t going extinct — and when vibe-coding does make sense.How AI can amplify careers: automate the small stuff, get promoted to bigger problems.Practical ideas for marketing, personalization, and building dynamic UIs that fade into the background.Guest: Dharmesh Shah — Co-founder & CTO, HubSpotSubscribe for more Agents of Scale — actionable conversations with builders, leaders, and product thinkers who are shaping the next era of work.Try Zapier for yourself: https://bit.ly/4hWQES5If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone building for the future.
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