AI subscriptions are quietly becoming the new SaaS sprawl. The discipline that actually saves money isn't a bigger budget or a smarter model — it's the same boring question applied consistently: does this tool earn its place?

Local versus cloud AI sounds like an IT decision. It isn't. It's a board-level question about data control, compliance, and vendor dependence — and most CEOs have never actually asked it.

Most companies are collecting AI tools the way people once collected apps. The research my own team just published points to a better discipline — treat every AI purchase like a hire, with an exit plan, not a subscription you'll regret.