In a recent LinkedIn post, Yonathan Cohen explores the burgeoning landscape of AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude, highlighting their massive user base and prompt volume as a key market for SaaS products. Cohen argues that for Software-as-a-Service companies to thrive in this new era, they must find ways to integrate their offerings directly into these conversational AI interfaces.
Cohen outlines two primary mechanisms for achieving this integration: MCP (Mini-Chat Protocol) and Skills. MCP positions a SaaS product as a server that the AI can call upon. This allows users to interact with the SaaS functionality without ever leaving the chat interface. As Yonathan Cohen notes:
“MCP = your product becomes a server the AI calls. The user asks, your product runs, nobody leaves the chat.”
The second mechanism, Skills, involves packaging a concrete workflow from the SaaS product. The AI is then trained to understand and utilize this workflow to complete tasks for the user. This approach, according to Cohen, allows the AI to effectively “use” the SaaS product to achieve a user’s goal.
Understanding the Levels of AI Presence
Yonathan Cohen further breaks down the presence of a SaaS product within an AI chat into three distinct levels:
- Cited: The AI simply mentions the SaaS product or its website. This is the most basic form of presence.
- Called: The SaaS product’s functionality is executed directly within the chat via the MCP mechanism.
- Method: The AI has learned to execute a specific workflow of the SaaS product, akin to the “Skills” approach.
Cohen emphasizes that the ultimate goal for SaaS providers should be to reach the highest levels of integration, where users can seamlessly utilize their product within the AI conversation.
The Future of SaaS Integration in AI
The core thesis presented by Yonathan Cohen is that the SaaS companies poised for success in the current technological climate are those that enable users to remain within the AI chat environment for their tasks. This frictionless experience is seen as paramount.
Cohen states:
“The SaaS that wins is the one your users never have to leave the chat to use.”
This perspective suggests a significant shift in how SaaS products will need to be designed and marketed. Instead of driving users to a separate application or website, the focus will be on embedding functionality and workflows directly into the conversational AI platforms that are rapidly gaining traction. The sheer scale of AI usage, with over a billion users monthly across platforms like ChatGPT and Claude, underscores the strategic importance of this integration.
Yonathan Cohen’s analysis provides a clear framework for SaaS businesses looking to adapt to the evolving AI-driven market. By understanding and implementing mechanisms like MCP and Skills, companies can position themselves to be an integral part of the AI-powered workflows that are increasingly defining how work gets done.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Yonathan Cohen on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on June 10, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →