NetSuite Founder Discusses AI's Impact on Business Software

Evan Goldberg, founder of NetSuite, has expressed uncertainty regarding the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Speaking at the SuiteConnect London 2026 event, Goldberg stated, "There are a lot of questions where it is just unknown right now how AI is going to play out." He questioned whether AI would lead to fewer or more users of ERP systems, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring.

Goldberg noted that, currently, NetSuite has not observed significant changes in customer usage patterns due to AI. He suggested that the adoption of AI in business may take longer than some anticipate, providing companies like NetSuite time to adapt. He remarked, "When you are inside the Silicon Valley bubble you think everything is going to get revolutionised immediately. But the way the technology really works is that it takes time for people to adopt it."

At the event, NetSuite introduced AI-powered task automation tools designed to enhance business efficiency. Goldberg highlighted the company's commitment to integrating AI into its offerings, aiming to provide valuable insights and automate tasks for businesses. He likened the shift to AI-powered software to the transition from sea to air travel, indicating NetSuite's intention to lead in this technological evolution.

Additionally, NetSuite announced the launch of NetSuite Next, an AI-powered cloud ERP platform that embeds AI capabilities into business processes. This platform aims to make operations more collaborative, insightful, and adaptive, with features such as conversational intelligence and natural language search. Goldberg emphasized that NetSuite Next is designed to be a natural extension of existing workflows, enabling users to discover patterns and engage with the system using their own words.

Goldberg also addressed concerns about AI's potential to replace human roles, suggesting that AI could allow professionals to focus more on strategic tasks. He stated, "The CFO may be able to be used in more strategic ways... If there is one thing that AI can hopefully do is to shift that balance for everybody."