French firms confront AI integration and rising SaaS costs

Maxime Cifrian, speaking in Paris, stresses that artificial intelligence must be embedded within existing corporate software, databases and security frameworks. For French enterprises, compatibility with current tools and cost‑effectiveness are now central to successful AI deployments, with the deadline of 2026 highlighted as a turning point.

A separate analysis warns that scattered, unstructured data across many disconnected systems creates a major cybersecurity weakness. According to the Thales Data Threat Report 2025, 22 % of organisations lack confidence in locating their data, while the number of SaaS applications grew 23 % in a year. The proliferation of ungoverned data not only raises breach risks but also hampers AI projects, as poorly indexed information can lead to biased outputs and leaks.

Meanwhile, AI is reshaping the economics of SaaS. Automation is lowering the cost of building in‑house applications, while SaaS vendors face rising investment demands to integrate AI features, potentially driving up subscription fees. Some French DSI are reconsidering the traditional “buy‑instead‑of‑build” model, exploring internal engineering teams to regain budgetary sovereignty and reduce reliance on costly SaaS solutions.