Summary: Box CEO Aaron Levie shared his insights at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 on how AI agents won’t replace enterprise SaaS but will instead complement it, creating a hybrid model. He emphasized the importance of maintaining deterministic business logic alongside AI agents to ensure reliability and security. Levie also highlighted the shift in business models from per-seat licensing to consumption-based models driven by AI agent usage. This transition opens exciting opportunities for startups to innovate in the emerging agent-first enterprise landscape.
A Hybrid Future: SaaS Meets AI Agents
At the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference, Box co-founder and CEO Aaron Levie discussed his vision for the future of enterprise software. Contrary to the idea that AI agents might replace traditional SaaS platforms, Levie believes the future lies in a hybrid approach where AI agents complement SaaS solutions.
Balancing Deterministic Systems with AI Agents
Levie explained, “Generally, once you have a business process, you want to be able to define that in, effectively, business logic with deterministic systems — just because the risk of that changing any given day is very high.” He pointed out the risks associated with relying solely on AI agents, such as data leaks or unintended actions like disrupting databases or production environments.
To mitigate these risks, Levie emphasized the need for a clear separation — a “church and state” — between the deterministic core of enterprise software and the more flexible, non-deterministic AI agents layered on top.
The Impact on Enterprise SaaS Business Models
Looking ahead, Levie predicts a dramatic shift in how enterprise SaaS companies structure their business models. “We’ll have about 100 times more, maybe 1,000 times more, agents than we have people,” he said. This surge in AI agent users means the traditional per-seat licensing model will no longer be viable.
Instead, companies will need to adopt consumption- and volume-based pricing models that account for AI agent usage, reflecting the new dynamics of software interaction.
Opportunities for Startups in the Agent-First Era
Levie sees a unique opportunity for startups in this evolving landscape. Unlike established companies with entrenched business processes, startups can design new workflows that are agent-first from the ground up. This agility allows them to innovate without the constraints of legacy systems.
He encouraged entrepreneurs to build solutions that ease change management and help enterprises transition smoothly into this new era of AI-augmented workflows.
Embracing the Platform Shift in Tech
Reflecting on the broader tech landscape, Levie noted, “We are in this window right now that we have not been in for about 15 years, which is — there’s a complete platform shift happening in tech that’s opening up a spot for a new set of companies to emerge.”
He urged entrepreneurs to seize this moment and fully leverage the opportunities presented by the convergence of AI and enterprise SaaS.