Salesforce and Microsoft: The AI Race, No Need to Pick Sides

In the world of AI, Salesforce and Microsoft are going head-to-head. But investors don't need to choose a favorite. Both companies are making big moves in AI, with Salesforce introducing Agentforce and Microsoft rolling out new tools at its Ignite conference. While Salesforce's CEO, Marc Benioff, has been critical of Microsoft's AI efforts, it's early days yet. Deutsche Bank has even raised its price target for Salesforce, hinting at a big payoff. So, why pick sides when you can own both? Agentforce, Salesforce's new AI suite, lets customers create AI agents that can do tasks without supervision, like updating shipping addresses. Wall Street is buzzing about it, but analysts warn it's still too early to tell how successful it'll be. Salesforce hopes Agentforce will be a hit, unlike its previous AI attempt, Einstein Copilot. Microsoft, on the other hand, has Copilot, which it says is a huge success. But Benioff isn't impressed, comparing it to the old Clippy assistant. Still, Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, is optimistic, and with good reason. Microsoft has a history of pivoting and improving. Investors should keep an eye on both companies. Salesforce's stock has been on a tear since it announced Agentforce. And even if Benioff's criticism of Microsoft is a bit harsh, it's still early in the AI game. Both companies have the potential to do big things.