Microsoft vs Salesforce Agentic AI Battle & Weekly News Roundup

Your trusted source for practical AI implementation insights. Every edition brings the latest enterprise-focused, ROI-focused case studies and actionable frameworks to help business leaders drive measurable value from AI investments across their organizations.

This week's newsletter explores how?Microsoft and Salesforce are reshaping the $41.7B CRM market by using AI Agents?to transform the delivery of business value from traditional SaaS applications.

The numbers tell a compelling story: Salesforce leads with 202,600 customers, while Microsoft's Copilot has captured 60% of Fortune 500 companies. Both platforms are showing impressive results - Microsoft's Copilot is helping sales teams close 20% more deals, while Salesforce's Agentforce is on track to handle 50% of customer service requests autonomously. With Gartner predicting that 60% of B2B seller work will be AI-powered by 2028 (up from 5% in 2023), this competition is just starting.

"In the News" - Each week, we analyze hundreds of articles from around the web to provide the latest insights on best practices, case studies, ROI, and innovation.?

? Microsoft's $80B AI infrastructure investment

?? AI revolutionizes automotive software

?? Pentagon's AI-powered employee vetting

?? CFOs evolve into Chief Capital Officers

?? Meta's AI decodes user behavior

Want deeper insights? Check out AI Enterprise Today for in-depth analysis and insights.

Paul Estes

Editor-in-Chief

Microsoft vs Salesforce: The Feud Shaping AI in CRM

The battle for AI dominance between Microsoft and Salesforce is reshaping the $41.7 billion CRM market. As AI agents become core to customer relationship management, with impressive adoption and results from both platforms

Key Insights

• In the $41.7 billion CRM market, Salesforce leads with 202,600 customers, but Microsoft's Copilot has already captured 60% of Fortune 500 companies.
• The shift to AI agents is already delivering results: Microsoft's Copilot helps sales teams close 20% more deals, while Salesforce's Agentforce is projected to handle 50% of all customer service requests autonomously.
• Gartner predicts 60% of B2B seller work will be AI-powered by 2028, up from 5% in 2023.

Read the rest of the article on Enterprise AI Today.

AI in the News

We analyze AI coverage from McKinsey, Bloomberg, WSJ, Forbes, and other leading publications each week to deliver actionable insights on implementation success and measurable value. We cut through the hype to focus on real business impact - In the news.

Microsoft president: AI is 'electricity of our age,' $80 billion spend - Microsoft's president compares AI to electricity, highlighting its transformative potential. The company plans to invest $80 billion in AI infrastructure, focusing on data centers and chips. This significant investment underscores AI's growing importance in shaping the future of technology and business.

Software-defined hardware in the age of AI - The automotive industry is shifting towards software-defined vehicles, with AI playing a crucial role. This transition involves integrating advanced software and AI capabilities into cars, enabling features like autonomous driving and predictive maintenance. The change reshapes vehicle design, manufacturing, and user experience, presenting new opportunities and challenges for automakers.

The Pentagon is using AI to vet employees—but only when it passes the 'mom test' - The Pentagon has implemented AI for employee vetting, subject to the 'mom test' for fairness and reliability. This approach aims to enhance security clearance processes while ensuring ethical AI use. The system analyzes various data points to assess potential risks, balancing efficiency with privacy concerns in a national security context.

AI?will transform CFOs into chief capital officers, says an MIT researcher.?An MIT researcher predicts AI will redefine the CFO role to 'Chief Capital Officer'. This shift involves leveraging AI for strategic financial planning, risk management, and resource allocation. The transformation emphasizes data-driven decision-making and a broader focus on organizational value creation beyond traditional monetary management.

From engines to algorithms: Gen AI in automotive software development - Generative AI is revolutionizing automotive software development, accelerating coding processes, and enhancing vehicle functionality. This technology enables faster creation of complex algorithms for autonomous driving, infotainment systems, and vehicle diagnostics. The integration of Gen AI is reshaping the automotive industry's approach to software innovation and product development.

How Meta leverages generative AI to understand user intent - Meta is utilizing generative AI to understand user intent across its platforms better. This technology analyzes user behavior, content interactions, and search patterns to predict preferences and tailor experiences. The approach aims to enhance user engagement, content relevance, and advertising effectiveness while navigating privacy considerations.

How AI is mitigating threats in capital markets - AI plays a crucial role in mitigating threats in capital markets. Advanced algorithms detect fraud, monitor market volatility, and identify potential real-time risks. This technology enhances regulatory compliance, improves risk management, and strengthens overall market stability, benefiting investors and financial institutions.

Windsurf Cascade uses AI to help beginners code games and applications - Windsurf Cascade, an AI-powered platform, assists beginners in coding games and applications. The tool uses natural language processing to translate user ideas into functional code, simplifying development. This innovation aims to democratize coding, making it accessible to non-technical users and fostering creativity in software development.

AI transforming technical work: Vercel Julius for developers - Vercel's AI tool, Julius, is transforming technical work for developers. It automates routine coding tasks, suggests optimizations, and assists in debugging. This AI-driven approach significantly increases productivity, allowing developers to focus on more complex and creative aspects of software engineering.

AI will help us with the 'why' of engagement rates - AI is evolving to provide deeper insights into user engagement rates. Advanced algorithms analyze user behavior patterns, content preferences, and interaction contexts to explain the reasons behind engagement metrics. This capability enables marketers and content creators to develop more effective strategies and personalized experiences.

The new data essentials: The road to data readiness - Accenture's report emphasizes the importance of data readiness in the AI era. It outlines strategies for organizations to enhance data quality, governance, and accessibility. The study highlights how robust data infrastructure is crucial for effective AI implementation and digital transformation across industries.

IBM's AI strategy insights - IBM's report provides insights into effective AI strategy implementation. It covers key areas such as ethical AI development, integration with existing systems, and workforce upskilling. The document offers guidance on leveraging AI for business innovation while addressing challenges like data privacy and algorithmic bias.

AI in the public sector: BCG's perspective - BCG's collection explores AI applications in the public sector. It covers improving government services, enhancing policy-making, and increasing operational efficiency. The analysis highlights the potential benefits and challenges of AI adoption in public administration, emphasizing the need for responsible and citizen-centric implementation.