Salesforce Shares Soar as CEO Benioff Unveils Ambitious Billion-Agent AI Strategy

Salesforce Inc. CEO Marc Benioff announced at the annual Dreamforce conference that the company’s new artificial intelligence software provides a comprehensive solution for businesses eager to harness emerging technologies.

During an interview with Bloomberg Television, Benioff emphasized that clients often believe they must handle AI independently. “This is a shock to them and it’s exciting for us,” he stated.

The software company has shifted its focus to developing AI “agents” that can perform specific tasks like customer service and scheduling without human supervision, moving away from the previous emphasis on generative AI assistants requiring user prompts.

Benioff expressed a bold goal: “We want to get a billion agents with our customers in the next 12 months.” He acknowledged that while the new technology could replace some jobs, it would allow companies to manage increased demand without hiring additional full-time employees or gig workers.

Following these announcements, Salesforce shares surged 5.4% to close at $265.99—marking the largest single-day increase in nearly four months. Despite this, the stock has only gained 1.1% this year, lagging behind many tech counterparts.

Benioff also addressed recent reports that Walt Disney Co. would discontinue the use of Salesforce’s Slack tool after a security breach leaked millions of messages. He reassured that the company’s security is robust but noted that clients must also take steps to safeguard against threats like phishing. “We can do our part, but customers need to do their part,” he said.