salesforce(US:CRM) 3 6 Ke·2025-09-05 00:06Core Insights - Salesforce has laid off approximately 4,000 customer support positions, reducing its team size from 9,000 to about 5,000, citing decreased need due to AI advancements [1][2] - The layoffs are attributed to the introduction of the AI system Agentforce, which automates various tasks and enhances employee productivity, leading to a significant drop in support ticket volume [2][3] - Despite the layoffs, Salesforce plans to hire 1,000 to 2,000 sales personnel in the coming year to help communicate the value of AI to customers [3] AI Impact - Agentforce has reportedly improved engineering team efficiency by over 30%, allowing for faster development speeds [2] - AI is currently handling up to 50% of the workload within Salesforce, positioning the company as a pioneer in large-scale AI application in business [3] Industry Reactions - There is a divide in opinions regarding the layoffs; some view AI as a scapegoat for cost-cutting measures following over-expansion during the pandemic [4] - Critics argue that companies are using AI as an excuse to justify layoffs while pursuing growth at the expense of employee welfare [4] - The broader employment landscape is being transformed by AI, suggesting that future competition may shift from human-to-human to human-to-AI [5]