Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff Slams Microsoft's AI, as Analyst Downgrades Salesforce
Davos, Switzerland - January 19, 2023
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has reignited his criticism of Microsoft's AI capabilities, calling its Copilot product "just a repackaged ChatGPT." Benioff's comments at the World Economic Forum come as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has questioned the viability of business applications in the AI era.
Salesforce's AI Bots Gain Momentum
Salesforce's AI bots, capable of handling customer interactions and product descriptions, compete directly with Microsoft's Copilot for workplace dominance. In the third quarter, Salesforce closed 200 Agentforce deals, adding FedEx, IBM, and Accenture as new clients.
Benioff declined to provide an updated number of Agentforce deals closed since Q3, but a source familiar with Salesforce indicated strong initial consumption. Salesforce charges $2 per conversation, underscoring the potential profitability of Agentforce.
Analysts Divided on Salesforce
Wall Street has largely embraced the bullish narrative on AI agents, driving Salesforce's stock price up over 25% since Agentforce's launch in September. However, some skeptics remain. Guggenheim analyst John DiFucci downgraded Salesforce to Sell, citing concerns about Agentforce's monetization potential.
Additional Insights
* Brian Sozzi, Executive Editor of Yahoo Finance, moderated a discussion with industry leaders at Davos, discussing implications of AI for the business landscape.
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