DingTalk CEO Declares Software Era Over as AI Reshapes Business

AI Ushers in New Era of Workplace Transformation

At the 18th China Business Women's Annual Conference, DingTalk founder Chen Hang dropped what many are calling a bombshell announcement: "The software era has come to an end completely." The tech leader painted a vivid picture of how artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing how businesses operate.

"We're not just upgrading tools," Chen explained. "We're redesigning the very DNA of how organizations function." His vision includes workplaces where applications appear instantly to meet changing needs, rather than following traditional development cycles.

The AI Workplace Revolution

Inside DingTalk itself, the changes are already dramatic. Chen described how many internal processes have shifted from human-to-human interactions to human-to-AI collaborations. This shift is flattening corporate hierarchies that have existed for decades.

"Imagine decision-makers getting real-time frontline data instead of filtered reports," Chen said, highlighting how AI breaks down information silos. "We're moving from gut-feel decisions to precision guidance based on live data streams."

From Software to AI-Native Organizations

The transformation goes beyond mere efficiency gains. According to Chen, companies must rethink their entire approach to technology. "The winners in this new era won't be those with the best software," he noted, "but those who can most quickly adapt their organizational structures to leverage AI."

DingTalk is now working to help other companies make this transition. The changes suggest that corporate competition may soon center on which organizations can most effectively restructure for the AI age.

Key Points:

• Traditional software development models becoming obsolete
• AI enables "instant generation" of business applications
• Organizational structures flattening as AI handles coordination
• Decision-making shifting from experience-based to data-driven
• Corporate competitiveness increasingly tied to AI adaptation speed