How exposed are software stocks to AI tools? We put vibe-coding to the test

February 5, 2026

TL;DR

Software, legal services, and video game stocks are experiencing sell-offs due to fears of AI replacing them.
A CNBC reporter and a non-developer used Anthropic's "Claude Code" to build a project management platform similar to Monday.com.
The AI tool created a working prototype with features like project boards, assigned team members, and a status dropdown in minutes.
The AI further enhanced the platform by researching Monday.com, replicating its features, and adding a calendar.
Connecting the AI-generated platform to an email account allowed for personalized task management and reminders.
The entire process took under an hour and cost minimal compute credits, with potential for further cost reduction as data centers expand.
Companies sitting "on top of the work," such as Atlassian, Adobe, HubSpot, Zendesk, and Smartsheet, are considered most exposed.
Cybersecurity stocks like CrowdStrike and Palo Alto are seen as less vulnerable due to network effects.
Systems of record like Salesforce may be safer but not immune, as their enterprise data anchors businesses.
The current software sell-off presents an opportunity for investors to distinguish between essential and supplementary software tools.

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