MicroConf On Air There’s ONLY 5 Ways to Use AI in SaaS (prove me wrong)
Jan 28, 2026
Founders debate whether AI will leave them behind and get a practical reframing of that fear. Five distinct ways to use AI in SaaS are outlined, from AI as the core product to using it for operations. Real-world examples highlight tradeoffs like commoditization, quality expectations, speed gains, growth tactics, and internal efficiencies.
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Ask The Right AI Question
- Founders ask the wrong question: don't worry about using more AI, worry about using it the right way.
- Rob Walling introduces a five-category framework to classify effective AI usage in startups.
When AI Is Your Product
- When AI is the core product, removing it destroys the business and creates massive market opportunity.
- Risks include commoditization, platform dependency, market education, and high capital needs for foundational models.
Real Examples Of AI-First Startups
- Rob Walling cites companies like Fiscal.ai, Jasper, Midjourney, Rosie, One Accord, and PodSqueeze as examples where AI is the product.
- PodSqueeze is noted as a useful bootstrap tool that saves time on podcast summaries and show notes.