Salesforce CEO Benioff Unfazed by 'SaaS-pocalypse' Fears

Salesforce's AI tools and $50 billion buyback plan aim to reassure investors amid market volatility.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff pushed back against fears that AI will make business software obsolete, pointing to the company's AI tool Agentforce as proof that Salesforce is evolving to meet the AI era. Salesforce projected full-year revenue of $45.8–$46.2 billion, just shy of analyst expectations, but Benioff said demand for AI-powered tools would drive fiscal 2030 revenue to $63 billion. The company also announced a $50 billion buyback plan, which helped boost its stock price.

Why it matters

Salesforce's performance and Benioff's comments on the 'SaaS-pocalypse' are closely watched by the tech industry, as the company is seen as a bellwether for the broader software-as-a-service (SaaS) market. Benioff's confidence in Salesforce's AI capabilities and growth potential aims to reassure investors amid broader market volatility and concerns about the impact of AI on enterprise software.

The details

Benioff pointed to Salesforce's AI tool Agentforce, which autonomously handles tasks like customer service, as proof that the company is evolving to meet the AI era. Salesforce's AI products now generate $2.9 billion in annual recurring revenue, doubling from the prior quarter, though that figure still represents a small fraction of the company's overall business. Salesforce projected full-year revenue of $45.8–$46.2 billion, with a midpoint just shy of analyst expectations. However, Benioff said demand for AI-powered tools would drive fiscal 2030 revenue to a total $63 billion, above the $60 billion target Salesforce outlined at its October investor day.

  • Salesforce announced its earnings and revenue forecast on Thursday, February 23, 2026.

The players

Marc Benioff

The CEO of Salesforce, who pushed back against fears that AI will make business software obsolete.

Salesforce

A leading provider of customer relationship management (CRM) software and other enterprise cloud computing solutions.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If there is a 'SaaS-pocalypse', it may be eaten by the 'SaaS-quatch' because there are a lot of companies using a lot of SaaS because it just got better with agents.”

— Marc Benioff, CEO (Salesforce earnings call)

What’s next

Salesforce's performance and Benioff's comments on the 'SaaS-pocalypse' will continue to be closely watched by investors and the tech industry, as the company's success is seen as a bellwether for the broader SaaS market.

The takeaway

Salesforce's confidence in its AI capabilities and growth potential, as well as its $50 billion buyback plan, aim to reassure investors that the company is well-positioned to navigate the challenges posed by the rise of AI in the enterprise software market.