This quarter's CEOBarometer examines the market's shift from AI experimentation to more strategic deployment. We explore three areas where that's playing out, and the impact it's having — both good and bad.

First, we look at how AI is advancing beyond bolt-on features to reshape products, business models and ultimately, organisational design. We examine this critical new stage of the ‘AI Goldilocks period’, and what it means as AI strategy cements itself as a CEO- and board-level issue on which long-term shareholder value now depends.

Second, the frontier AI labs are moving into services; Anthropic and OpenAI have launched multi-billion-dollar, private equity-backed services businesses, with Microsoft and AWS close behind. What does it tell us about where value will really be created in the AI economy — and is it a threat or an opportunity for the UK mid-market?

Finally, we mark the SaaSpocalypse at its six-month birthday, exploring why investors remain cautious on traditional software, what an AI moat actually looks like and what leading SaaS CEOs are doing about it. It all comes back to a single strategic choice: over the next decade, does your business sell outcomes, or become part of the infrastructure that enables AI?

Timestamps:

• 1:00 — The AI Goldilocks period — What's driving the shift from bolt-on AI to business-critical strategy, and the five shifts CEOs need to make.
• 27:12 — Frontier labs move into services — Anthropic, OpenAI, Microsoft and AWS commit billions to AI services — threat or opportunity for the UK mid-market?
• 46:30 — The SaaSpocalypse, six months on — Feature commoditisation, the hunt for a genuine AI moat, and the reset in software valuations and deals.
• 1:03:31 — What the best CEOs are doing — Turning the wake-up call into opportunity, and the hard questions on pricing, people and product strategy.

About this podcast

Our quarterly podcast offers a clear, strategic perspective on the forces shaping the UK tech sector— M&A, capital flows, valuations, AI, and more.

Hosted by Megabuyte’s Founder & Chairman, Ian Spence, and Megabuyte’s Head of Research & Consulting, Neel Arampatta, the CEOBarometer is designed for CxOs of scale-ups and mid-market companies who value depth over noise. Find out more at www.megabuyte.com or search ‘Megabuyte for CxOs’.

CEOBarometer is now available in video format on Spotify and the Megabuyte YouTube channel, where you can also watch shorter excerpts from our previous episodes.