“I think this copilot thing has been a huge disaster for them.” “We’re out there right now in production with thousands of customers and they are just not at that level.” “They’re just not at that level.” “I don’t know what AGI they’re using, but it’s not the one I have at least.” – Marc Benioff on Microsoft’s approach to AI.
In the latest episode of The Logan Bartlett Show, Logan and Jacob Effron speak with Salesforce co-founder and CEO Mark Benioff. They explore the transformative potential of AI, and how it’s shaping Salesforce and the broader tech landscape, along with a few thoughts on big tech and regulations.
- Microsoft’s AI Approach – Microsoft’s approach to the AI world has been largely disappointing to many, with its “co-pilot” initiative considered a huge disaster. Salesforce, on the other hand, is engaging with AI on a different level, actively running AI applications for thousands of customers, moving beyond merely creating demos.
- SaaS is Not Dead: – SaaS applications are more than just CRUD databases; they’re the foundation for future advancements in AI. Companies that treat these applications merely as such are not likely to survive in the future, as SaaS moves into the agent era. “That’s probably where they will all collapse, right in the agent era”
- AI – Not Just for the Future: – Salesforce is not just talking about AI as something to implement in the future; the company is implementing it at the present. They are out there right now in production with thousands of customers, while many of their competitors aren’t at this level yet.
- Beyond the PC and Phone: – We’re entering a new era, where digital intelligence transcends the PC, phone, Slack, or Zoom. We’re moving into a post-everything era and we must leave those old constructs behind.
- The Era of Digital Labor: – The potential of digital labor using agents has created an opportunity of at least a trillion dollars. However, it also implies the need to redefine the nature of human-computer collaboration, which has become a big point for current business strategy. “You’re describing a post-PC, post-phone, post-Slack, post-Zoom, post-email world and I’m not in that world. I’m in the current reality.”
- The Customer Touchpoint: – The core of Salesforce’s strategy has always been about facilitating connections between customers and their own customers, automating these connections and the sharing of information. However, AI is taking this a step further, adding a new facet of touch and automation to those connections.
- A Trillion-Dollar Opportunity: There’s a massive trillion-dollar opportunity in digital agents, and Salesforce is actively pursuing its development.
- Balancing AI With Human Ingenuity: – Rather than imagining a completely AI driven world, we need to see AI as a way to augment human support. It’s about humans and agents working in tandem to generate the best possible outcomes for customers.
- Moving Beyond Predictive to Generative and Agentic: The evolution of AI is taking us through the predictive world to generative AI, to the present “agentic” era which is more powerful and more useful.
- Data Matters: With AI, you need the right data to be able to be effective, and you also need strong systems that are able to use and learn from that data in new, unique and meaningful ways that drive transformation.
- Don’t Believe All the Hype: Most AI that exists today is nowhere near what is being projected. There’s a gap between AI’s actual effectiveness and public perceptions and, for some AI products, that reality is nothing more than re-packaged models.
- Salesforce’s Approach to AI: The company is not focused solely on the technical aspects, but also on the social and human elements, using tools like a “one-one-one” model of giving back to the community, by focusing on what really matters.
“I’m in the current reality, it’s 2025. Here is my desk. I’m in the now.” “I’m describing the post-PC, post-phone, post-slack, post zoom, post email world, and I’m not in that world”
Key TODOs for busy professionals:
- Look Beyond the Hype: Evaluate AI tools practically, asking how they actually improve outcomes and not just chase the latest technology trends.
- Invest in Training: Ensure that your workforce is prepared for the changes ahead, rather than just assuming you’ll need a bunch of new folks and that your current people are redundant.
- Promote a balanced Approach to Technology and Culture: Find a model that incorporates the value of humans and technology while also having a good social conscience.