What is this website used as a source?
It doesn’t have sources, an about page, contact page or even proper navigation. Is it some sort of blog?
Edit: I managed to manually navigate to their about page using the URL, and all the images there are badly AI generated, the content is meaningless.
I don’t trust news sources that are not transparent, provide information about themselves or use AI for key resources. Even if I agree with the stance in their articles.
For all I know, all of the content of the article is made up.
Looks like the Times of India broke the original story based on Benioff’s podcast comments:
“According to CNBC, CEO Marc Benioff revealed in a podcast that Salesforce had trimmed its support workforce from 9,000 to about 5,000 people through AI deployment. The company later clarified that it had “successfully redeployed hundreds of [those] employees into other areas like professional services, sales, and customer success.”
That’s a much better sourced article and an interesting read, thanks.
I was about to repost this elsewhere, and also noted that there’s literally no sources on this. While it’s most certainly something I would enjoy to be true… is it, actually?
If nothing else, AI is doing a great job of exposing shitty employers.
Wanna know the best part?
They now get to rehire, and set salary expectations lower.
That is probably the plan and they’re only pretending to regret their decision.
I’m so glad this was made illegal in the UK.
Why don’t developers spend a few hours a week working together to ruin the Salesforce image just to make an example of them to never do this.
I have a friend in programming. He says it’s baffling that the entire industry is anti-union and tends to be pretty pro-corporate.
It’s because companies have tricked them into thinking that joining unions means they wouldn’t get paid as well or would restrict their promotions. Also they had it pretty good for a long time as their jobs were in demand which gave them more negotiating power so they got paid better and had more benefits. But now that their jobs are put in danger by AI they are kinda fucked since they individually don’t have the same power anymore, power which they would have as a unionized block.
I agree on the tricking them, but there’s another part I look at. Basic fucking pattern recognition. The jobs have stopped being the in demand for a while now, and they’re not so much on the negotiating power. But the idea of a union is still apparently more anathema and are shocked at these mass layoffs that keep happening.
Silly that it has to use hedge language like not ready “yet” and “premature”. These executives fucked up and deserve to be roasted. They didn’t make an innocent mistake. They were grossly incompetent and should be losing their jobs for not doing even the most basic due diligence before making decisions that were not only bad for the affected employees but for their customers and the company itself.
“We assumed the technology was further along than it actually was,” one executive said privately
They fired 4000 people on an assumption. They should never hold a position of responsibility again.
Also on an assumption made where an informed decision could be made instread. State of technology is an objective thing
Funny enough, the only thing that works is AI generating YouTube fanfic videos about bosses being awful and receiving karma.
Salesforce has now begun reframing its AI strategy, shifting away from the language of replacement toward what executives call “rebalancing.” Rather than eliminating roles outright, the company says future AI deployments will emphasize augmentation, with humans retained in decision-critical and customer-facing positions.
This was so obviously the solution that should hav been tried first
Salesforce’s reversal has become a reference point in ongoing debates about AI and employment. While automation remains a central pillar of the company’s long-term strategy, its experience has underscored a growing consensus among executives and analysts: AI can reduce workloads, but replacing skilled workers too quickly carries real operational risk.
I don’t get why boards don’t dump these CEOs. I’m sure they’re happy with the reduced costs from firing half the employees, but to not consider the potential issues and actually vet the quality was such a bad decision. The facts are there was zero advantage to being the first to do AI customer support, but firing half your employees is irreversible.
A lot of these companies chase short term gains to look good on their quarterly report. These CEOs were most likely lauded when they presented the lowered costs on that quarterly and most likely got some fat bonuses out of it too. Now that the chickens have come to roost they are scrambling but they can still get away by blaming it on other shit. Even if they do get removed they already made their money through those bonuses and they can find a different position where to fail upwards.
The CEO is the face. The board is involved in decisions of this magnitude.
I’m sure they’re happy with the reduced costs from firing half the employees, but to not consider the potential issues and actually vet the quality was such a bad decision
Kind of becomes irrelevant when the initial reduced costs were probably decimated by secondary costs they hadn’t even considered, for example, time wasted by remaining employees now burdened with correcting the AI’s mistakes.
Inb4 “Salesforce CEO: No one wants to work (for us) anymore!”
That’s what happens when idiots are in charge.
views america
Yep. That tracks.
Does anyone who uses Salesforce not regret their decision?
I’ve seen very few solid implementations of Salesforce… And the consultants are expensive. I’m sure it can be implemented correctly, but it seems you’d need dedicated growth ops staff to tweak, adjust, and continue to optimize the platform.
Alternatively, Salesforce could invest in a user experience that isn’t a confusing PoS that requires 9000 customer service agents to help people get through it. Just say’n.
Company shoots self in the foot to the surprise of noone, except for the company
fucking lol. lmao even.
I hate the three letter club so much
let them cook
What episode is this from? God it feels so familiar and yet asserole on the table means I gotta watch it again
Treehouse of horror 28: “The worst thing Homer’s ever done”
Edit: Make sure you check season 29 for this since they lag by one
Let the kitchen burn down
AI told them to do it.
shocked.Kirk.gif
