Is AI Eating Salesforce Alive?

With AI reshaping the software landscape, can Salesforce stay ahead or is disruption inevitable?

Salesforce heads into earnings facing more than just a numbers game. CFRA’s Angelo Zino argues that for SaaS giants like Salesforce, Adobe, and others, it’s no longer about quarterly beats—it’s about survival in the age of AI. With Wall Street skeptical that SaaS business models can withstand the productivity shockwave unleashed by artificial intelligence, Salesforce’s story hinges on proving its AI platform isn’t just hype. While Zino sees momentum building for Salesforce’s “agentic AI” roadmap, the reality is sobering: AI-driven revenue is still in the low single digits of sales and unlikely to materially move the needle until 2026 or later.

The opportunity is massive, but so are the risks. Competitors like OpenAI and even DIY enterprise models threaten Salesforce’s core subscription base, while investors—already punishing SaaS stocks as the “most hated” in years—are questioning whether growth will ever stabilize. Salesforce’s edge lies in its massive enterprise data trove and early AI push, but the pressure is on to prove this strategy can outpace disruption. For traders, this quarter isn’t about EPS—it’s about whether Salesforce convinces the market it still belongs in AI’s future.

🔑 Key Takeaways: AI strategy now matters more than quarterly numbers Salesforce’s early agentic AI platform and massive enterprise data give it an edge SaaS valuations are at their “most hated” levels in years Risks: slowing subscription growth, DIY enterprise solutions, and rising AI competition AI revenue impact likely delayed until 2026–2027 — patience required for investors

📊 Why Watch: Learn how AI is changing the SaaS model Understand Salesforce’s competitive strengths & risks See what the next 2–3 years could look like for CRM investors