Salesforce CEO uses quarterly results to challenge 'AI will replace SaaS'

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff used quarterly results to challenge fears that AI would reduce demand for enterprise software. Salesforce and Anthropic unveiled Claudeforce, which lets salespeople access Salesforce data inside Claude to draft emails and update records. Anthropic is the AI lab behind Claude. Salesforce used its 'force' branding on another company's product for the first time. Investors had worried that AI chatbots would let companies bypass licensed software. Benioff argued that Salesforce's stored customer data provides the intelligence, security, and controls that business AI models need. Agentforce annual recurring revenue topped $1.5 billion. Agentforce annual recurring revenue rose more than 240% year over year. Combined Agentforce and Data 360 revenue reached nearly $3.9 billion. Combined Agentforce and Data 360 revenue rose more than 210%. Salesforce reported revenue of $11.35 billion. Revenue exceeded estimates. Salesforce shares rose 14% in extended trading. Salesforce booked a $2.6 billion gain tied to its equity stake in Anthropic. Anthropic was valued near $965 billion after its last funding round. Salesforce said bookings from its premium AI bundles more than doubled quarter over quarter in its filing. Benioff told Cramer that net new deal growth was the strongest in four years. Benioff also said customer attrition was near record lows.