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People vs Algorithms

People vs Algorithms

SaaSpocalypse Now

Oct 16, 2026 · 1 hr 2 min · 13 segments

An anonymous developer used Claude to ship open-source clones of Adobe’s big five, then Word, Excel, Keynote, AutoCAD and Figma within days, and the lesson is that software is a business of pure…

An anonymous developer used Claude to ship open-source clones of Adobe’s big five, then Word, Excel, Keynote, AutoCAD and Figma within days, and the lesson is that software is a business of pure margin with less moat than anyone thought. Packaged software is going the way of packaged media, and the mathematicians are finding out what that feels like.**Plus:** Alexandr Wang as Zuckerberg’s main character, Silicon Valley’s perennial claim that AI will kill advertising, Netflix cutting HR and legal, friction and the fate of Regina, Apple’s $300 home hub, and deodorant. \* Watch us on YouTube \* Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter \* Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter \* Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer \* Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter \* Join our community - PvA Field Notes **Chapters:** \* 00:47 The Car Is Back \* 04:01 Claude vs ChatGPT Personalities \* 06:45 ArtCraft and the SaaS Apocalypse \* 20:01 Headless Software and Moats \* 37:39 Meta Cheeky Pint \* 45:41 Friction Kills Towns \* 52:44 Good Product \* 01:00:58 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

An anonymous developer used Claude to ship open-source clones of Adobe’s big five, then Word, Excel, Keynote, AutoCAD and Figma within days, and the lesson is that software is a business of pure…

Speakers: Alex SchleiferGuestTroy YoungHostBrian MorrisseyHost

Top entities: T. J. McConnell×7 Adobe×14 Adobe Photoshop×13 Alex Schleifer×26 Software as a service×7

The SaaS Apocalypse Arrives6:45 – 13:09

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

6:45

Let's talk about the software.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

6:46

The SaaSpocalypse is back.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

6:50

I don't know why.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

6:51

It sort of like died down a little bit when we started thinking again about existential dread.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

6:56

But it does appear that existential dread has come for a lot of software businesses.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:01

And not just the

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:01

ones that are owned by bending spoons.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:04

Last week, an anonymous developer used Claude to build an open source clones of entire software.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:11

Adobe Suite.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:13

And then within days, added a Figma clone and then open-sourced a bunch of Microsoft Office clones.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:19

This is under ArtCraft.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:22

Alex,

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:24

is this the end of software?

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:26

Yeah.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:27

Is

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:28

it?

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:29

Yeah.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:30

Pandadoc? I think that is the end of something.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:32

And I think we're going to see a lot of changes because here's

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:36

what's happening now.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:38

Just go over to Artcraft.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:39

Yeah, I'll go over to Artcraft because it's a really good example.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:43

So Artcraft, you know, showed up this website and they dropped what is called Adobe's Big Five website.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:52

For free, Photoshop, After Effects, kind of the big piece of software.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:57

Some of them have been around for decades.

T. J. McConnellPersonIndiana Pacers point guard
99%7 mentions
AdobeCompanyComputer software company
98%14 mentions
Adobe PhotoshopSoftware ApplicationDownloadable software
97%13 mentions
Alex SchleiferPerson
96%26 mentions
Software as a serviceEntity
95%7 mentions
ClaudeSoftware ApplicationSoftware
93%20 mentions
Artificial intelligenceEntityProfessional field
92%7 mentions
AppleCompanyTechnology company
91%9 mentions
FigmaSoftware ApplicationSoftware
90%4 mentions
ChatGPTSoftware ApplicationSoftware
88%8 mentions
SlackSoftware ApplicationMobile application
87%7 mentions
Microsoft WordSoftware ApplicationComputer software
86%2 mentions
ReginaCityCity in Saskatchewan, Canada
85%8 mentions
TD BankCompanyBank
84%3 mentions
SiriSoftware Application
82%9 mentions
Alexander WangEntity
81%9 mentions
AutoCADSoftware ApplicationComputer software
80%2 mentions
Headless softwareEntity
79%1 mention
MetaCompanyTechnology company
77%7 mentions
Mark ZuckerbergPersonCEO of Meta
76%12 mentions
KeynoteSoftware ApplicationPresentation software
74%2 mentions
Microsoft ExcelSoftware ApplicationComputer program
74%2 mentions
Neil VogelPerson
73%2 mentions
Apple PodcastsSoftware Application
71%2 mentions
Large language modelEntity
70%5 mentions
YouTubeWebsiteVideo sharing company
69%4 mentions
ComputerEntity
68%1 mention
XEntitySocial networking service
66%4 mentions
ThreadsSoftware ApplicationSocial media service
66%1 mention
Amazon.comCompanyMultinational conglomerate company
64%5 mentions
MexicoCountryCountry in North America
63%2 mentions
Old SpiceBrand
62%5 mentions
PandaDocCompanyCompany
60%4 mentions
Alexandr WangPersonChief AI officer of Meta
59%1 mention
NetflixEntityTelevision broadcaster
58%5 mentions
Patrick CollisonPersonCEO of Stripe
57%3 mentions
Dude WipesProduct ModelProduct line
55%3 mentions
iPadProduct ModelProduct line
54%3 mentions
SpotifyCompanyCompany
53%2 mentions
San FranciscoCityCity in California
52%1 mention
NBASports OrganizationLeague
51%1 mention
DecompilerEntitySoftware class
49%1 mention
CrocsCompanyFootwear company
48%1 mention
Microsoft OfficeSoftware ApplicationSoftware
47%1 mention
OpenAICompanyGenerative AI company
46%2 mentions
Adobe Creative CloudSoftware ApplicationSoftware
45%1 mention
Adobe After EffectsSoftware ApplicationSoftware
43%1 mention
AOLCompanyOnline service provider company
42%2 mentions
AnthropicCompanyArtificial intelligence company
41%1 mention
HTMLEntity
40%1 mention

AI agentsTechnology > Artificial Intelligence
Intellectual PropertyLaw
Computer-use agentsTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > AI agents
AI-assisted software recreationTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > AI agents > Computer-use agents
SaaS disruptionBusiness > Software Industry > Software-as-a-Service
Open-source application clonesBusiness > Software Industry > Software-as-a-Service > SaaS disruption
Software copyright and patentsLaw > Intellectual Property
Reverse engineeringLaw > Intellectual Property > Software copyright and patents
Decompilation and clean-room implementationLaw > Intellectual Property > Software copyright and patents > Reverse engineering
Software architectureTechnology > Software Development
Headless software and APIsTechnology > Software Development > Software architecture
Bespoke AI-generated workflowsTechnology > Software Development > Software architecture > Headless software and APIs
Automation and productivityEconomics > Technological Change
Labor displacementEconomics > Technological Change > Automation and productivity
Centralization of economic value in AI platformsEconomics > Technological Change > Automation and productivity > Labor displacement
Software DevelopmentTechnology
Technological ChangeEconomics
Software IndustryBusiness
Software-as-a-ServiceBusiness > Software Industry
Law
Economics
Technology
Business
Artificial IntelligenceTechnology

The SaaS Apocalypse Arrives6:45 – 13:09

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

6:45

Let's talk about the software.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

6:46

The SaaSpocalypse is back.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

6:50

I don't know why.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

6:51

It sort of like died down a little bit when we started thinking again about existential dread.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

6:56

But it does appear that existential dread has come for a lot of software businesses.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:01

And not just the

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:01

ones that are owned by bending spoons.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:04

Last week, an anonymous developer used Claude to build an open source clones of entire software.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:11

Adobe Suite.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:13

And then within days, added a Figma clone and then open-sourced a bunch of Microsoft Office clones.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:19

This is under ArtCraft.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:22

Alex,

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:24

is this the end of software?

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:26

Yeah.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:27

Is

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:28

it?

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:29

Yeah.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:30

Pandadoc? I think that is the end of something.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:32

And I think we're going to see a lot of changes because here's

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:36

what's happening now.

B

Brian MorrisseyHost

7:38

Just go over to Artcraft.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:39

Yeah, I'll go over to Artcraft because it's a really good example.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:43

So Artcraft, you know, showed up this website and they dropped what is called Adobe's Big Five website.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:52

For free, Photoshop, After Effects, kind of the big piece of software.

Alex SchleiferGuest

7:57

Some of them have been around for decades.

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