“AI makes this cheaper now, right?” Mostly, no.

Every budgeting season, I get some version of the same question: "AI makes this cheaper now, right?"

Mostly, no. I'd rather say that plainly than let a client build a 2027 budget on a wrong assumption.

What's actually changed is where the cost sits, not how big it is. A good framework covers how to break a software budget down by line item, what genuinely drives it up or down, and how to evaluate a partner before you commit a number to finance. It's worth working through before your next budget cycle starts.

*First posted on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7504343919170809857/).*