2026 AI vs SaaS Replacement Survey Template

An AI vs SaaS replacement survey is a research tool that measures professional opinions on which software categories artificial intelligence will displace within two years and which sectors will endure. It combines categorical predictions with open-ended responses to capture both structured sentiment and nuanced reasoning about specific product vulnerabilities.

Run this survey when you're evaluating SaaS investment thesis, assessing competitive threats to your product, or tracking evolving market sentiment about AI disruption. Timing matters most when industry narratives shift or when you're preparing strategy decisions for the next product cycle.

For statistically meaningful insights, aim for 50–150 responses from relevant professionals (founders, investors, product leaders). This range provides confidence in category-level trends while staying fast to execute. Batch surveys monthly to track shifting sentiment as AI capabilities evolve.

Survey respondents consistently identify resilient categories as those requiring human judgment, regulatory compliance, or persistent customer relationships—CRM, HR, security, and finance infrastructure rank highest. The shared pattern: tools handling liability, trust, or unique business logic resist pure AI substitution better than task automation tools.

Use survey data to identify which of your features align with resilient categories and which may face commoditization pressure. Cross-check respondent anxiety levels against your own threat assessment, then prioritize roadmap work that compounds defensibility in high-concern areas.