Larry Ellison on AI killing software companies: AI may do some of their job, but not all as companies across sectors will still need software firms to build their …
Larry Ellison expects AI to change software companies’ work. The Oracle co-founder says businesses will still need commercial app developers, even as artificial intelligence (AI) makes it easier to build software. Speaking during his keynote at Oracle AI World , Ellison argued that AI could help software firms create more complete apps tailored to different industries and locations.
"There's been some talk about there being a SaaSpocalypse because everyone's going to use AI to build their own applications," he said. "I don't think that's quite true. I think companies will continue to build applications, but they will be quite different because of AI."
His comments address concerns about the future of software-as-a-service, or SaaS, businesses, which provide apps over the internet, usually through subscriptions. Ellison argues that easier software development will also let vendors handle more of their customers’ business requirements.
Why Larry Ellison says enterprise apps are unfinished
Ellison said existing enterprise applications automate only some of the processes companies need. Businesses often have to develop extensions or purchase additional apps and connectors to fill the gaps.
"They may be the best things that are commercially available... [but] they're not done," he said. He believes AI could help developers close those gaps by building apps around individual industry requirements.
"For the first time... [the] software industry can actually finish the applications if we start doing them industry by industry,” Ellison added.
Healthcare was one example he discussed. Apps serving that sector must account for complex operations, regulations, and location-specific differences. His proposed direction would require software companies to build those requirements into more comprehensive products.
Asking for results could replace navigating menus
Ellison also expects AI to change how employees use business software. Instead of working through menus, dashboards and multiple steps, users could describe what they need in ordinary language.
"If you can ask a question describing what you want to see, you should then immediately see it. Any other user interface is nonsense,” he added.
"There should be no training required to use any of these applications," Ellison noted.
That approach could reduce how often employees interact directly with a software vendor’s interface while still using its underlying apps.
In a separate interview with TechRadar Pro, NetSuite chief operating officer Brian Chess discussed customers accessing its software through AI assistants or platforms such as Slack.
"If they never log in, that's ok with us,” he said.
Under that approach, NetSuite would remain the system of record, which is the app that maintains a company’s authoritative business data, even when employees access it through another service.
Larry Ellison expects AI to change software companies’ work. The Oracle co-founder says businesses will still need commercial app developers, even as artificial intelligence (AI) makes it easier to build software. Speaking during his keynote at Oracle AI World , Ellison argued that AI could help software firms create more complete apps tailored to different industries and locations.
"There's been some talk about there being a SaaSpocalypse because everyone's going to use AI to build their own applications," he said. "I don't think that's quite true. I think companies will continue to build applications, but they will be quite different because of AI."
His comments address concerns about the future of software-as-a-service, or SaaS, businesses, which provide apps over the internet, usually through subscriptions. Ellison argues that easier software development will also let vendors handle more of their customers’ business requirements.
Why Larry Ellison says enterprise apps are unfinished
Ellison said existing enterprise applications automate only some of the processes companies need. Businesses often have to develop extensions or purchase additional apps and connectors to fill the gaps.
"They may be the best things that are commercially available... [but] they're not done," he said. He believes AI could help developers close those gaps by building apps around individual industry requirements.
"For the first time... [the] software industry can actually finish the applications if we start doing them industry by industry,” Ellison added.
Healthcare was one example he discussed. Apps serving that sector must account for complex operations, regulations, and location-specific differences. His proposed direction would require software companies to build those requirements into more comprehensive products.
Asking for results could replace navigating menus
Ellison also expects AI to change how employees use business software. Instead of working through menus, dashboards and multiple steps, users could describe what they need in ordinary language.
"If you can ask a question describing what you want to see, you should then immediately see it. Any other user interface is nonsense,” he added.
"There should be no training required to use any of these applications," Ellison noted.
That approach could reduce how often employees interact directly with a software vendor’s interface while still using its underlying apps.
In a separate interview with TechRadar Pro, NetSuite chief operating officer Brian Chess discussed customers accessing its software through AI assistants or platforms such as Slack.
"If they never log in, that's ok with us,” he said.
Under that approach, NetSuite would remain the system of record, which is the app that maintains a company’s authoritative business data, even when employees access it through another service.
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