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# Why Buy Software When AI Can Build It?


- **Event:** World Congress 2026 North America

## Description

Companies now have a real alternative to buying software: building it themselves, with AI doing most of the work. Teams are already replacing paid tools with internal ones, and vendors are being asked why their product beats a prompt. When building still loses to buying, where self-built software genuinely holds up, and what happens to the software business when its customers become its competitors.

## Speakers

### [Lee Edwards](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@lee-edwards)

General Partner at Root Ventures
### [Mang-Git Ng](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@mang-git-ng)

CEO of Anvil Foundry
### [Richard Robinson](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@richard-robinson)

Chief Evangelist at Unqork
### [Yoel Sommer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@yoel-sommer)

Co-Founder and Managing Partner of CSW Solutions


## Related talks at this congress

- [Shipping AI Features People Actually Use](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/events/world-congress-2026-north-america/sessions/1883-shipping-ai-features) — Ben Kus, Eric Simons, Wayne Liu
- [Signal Layer: What to Build When Anything Can Be Built](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/events/world-congress-2026-north-america/sessions/1884-signal-layer-what-to) — Lena Hall
- [Building AI Products vs. Building With AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/events/world-congress-2026-north-america/sessions/1841-building-ai-products) — Aparna Dhinakaran, Rukmini Reddy, Tamar Bercovici
- [Running AI-Written Software in Production](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/events/world-congress-2026-north-america/sessions/1879-running-ai-written) — Anurag Goel, Ivan Burazin, Milin Desai

## Watch remotely

Can’t make it to San José? Watch this session live with Pro. You also get:

- All full videos, bookmarks, and playlists
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[See pricing](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/pricing)

## Links

- [Get tickets](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/world-congress-north-america/tickets)