Salesforce Sees AI as Key to Future Growth
Salesforce executives Bill Patterson and Rob Seaman made their case at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference 2026 that AI is changing how enterprise software is bought, used, and priced. They highlighted the company's Claudeforce partnership with Anthropic as a key example of customer demand for agent-driven work.
The executives described a future where Slack serves as the operating system for work, AI agents handle routine tasks, and customers pay more often for outcomes rather than seats. Patterson and Seaman acknowledged investor concerns that AI could weaken Salesforce's core business, but argued that CRM has survived past technology shifts by adapting rather than disappearing.
The company is moving from seat-based pricing toward consumption and outcome-based models tied to results such as qualified leads or booked orders. Only about 5% of Salesforce's installed base is on premium SKUs, leaving room for higher-priced bundles like Agentforce 1 Edition, priced at $550 retail.