Thomas Phelps, CIO and SVP of Corporate Strategy at Laserfiche, joined J.D. Durkin from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to discuss the evolving software landscape, AI adoption, and whether the so-called “SaaS apocalypse” is real. Phelps explained that while disruption is certainly coming to the software industry, many of the headlines surrounding the death of traditional SaaS platforms are overblown. Enterprise companies, he noted, are unlikely to suddenly replace critical systems because factors like security, compliance, scalability, and total cost of ownership remain essential considerations for CIOs and business leaders.
The conversation also explored the rapid rise of AI-driven development tools and “vibe coding,” which Phelps believes is here to stay. While CEOs and corporate boards are eager to embrace artificial intelligence, he said one of the biggest obstacles to mass AI adoption is workforce readiness. Many organizations still need to train and upskill employees before AI can be implemented effectively at scale. According to Phelps, CIOs must work closely with HR and people teams to identify practical AI use cases and help employees integrate these tools into everyday workflows.
Security and governance were another major focus of the discussion. Phelps warned that AI introduces entirely new cybersecurity challenges, including the ability for attacks to scale and evolve faster than ever before. He stressed that businesses must approach AI security both offensively and defensively by using AI-powered tools to monitor systems, detect vulnerabilities, and prevent attacks proactively. He also emphasized that companies need to evaluate the security practices of their vendors, since an organization’s overall cybersecurity posture is only as strong as the ecosystem supporting it.
