Can a SaaS still survive without AI in 2026?

I think yes - but only if it solves a real problem well enough that people actually care about the product. A lot of products are adding AI because they feel like they have to. But if the core workflow is still messy, confusing, or not that useful, AI does not fix the product.

I’m building PrepIt for coffee shop operations, and this is something I think about a lot. Maybe for some products, AI can be a real advantage. For others, clarity, reliability, and solving a very specific problem still matter more.

Curious how other founders see it:
Is AI now a requirement, or can niche SaaS still win by being focused and practical?

Also drop your no-AI project if you have one!

Also check it out:
PrepIt: https://prepitco.com