AI has become 'a tremendous innovation proof point': Slack CEO

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Salesforce (CRM) acquired workspace messenger Slack in 2021 for $27.7 billion. Two whole years later, the tech companies are plotting out how to best integrate and collaborate with each other through new automation trends.

Slack CEO Lidiane Jones joins Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi to discuss Slack and Salesforce’s strategy to implement AI for their clients, stating: “We are seeing a faster adoption to automation. We’re using our platform for every part of the organization.”

Jones references Slack's State of Work report, highlighting how workers are seeing a "need for connection" by returning to the office and emphasizing the need for "more purposeful time together" when teams are in the office together.

"We are a platform that supports this hybrid work environment, so customers are taking advantage of the platform to support this evolution of how we all work together," Jones told Sozzi.

This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

Video Transcript

MARC BENIOFF: This AI wave is going to be the biggest that anyone has ever seen.

I think that the success of OpenAI is the point of evidence that this is going to be one of the fastest growing moves not just in the consumer market but in the enterprise market.

BRIAN SOZZI: That was my conversation with Salesforce co-founder and CEO, Marc Benioff, back in June.

Earlier this year, he told me the tech giant wanted to be the most profitable software company in the world.

That he was ready to hit the hyperspace button as well.

He was also trying to outmaneuver a string of activist investors like Elliott Management and Starboard urging him to cut expenses and boost profits.

One of their big complaints was the lack of a clear integration between Salesforce's core products and some very pricey acquisitions.

At the top of the heap with Slack, the messaging service acquired in 2021 for $27.7 billion.

The deal is meant to make the business more connected than ever before.

Now under the leadership of CEO, Lidiane Jones, Slack has leaned into the world of generative AI.

So two years after this mega deal and with a new leader at the helm has the Slackification of Salesforce actually happen.

Let's dive in here with Lidiane Jones, Slack's new CEO.

Lidiane, welcome to Yahoo Finance.

Good to connect with you here.

Six months into this job, what is the state of Slack?

And what is the state of this business inside of Salesforce?

LIDIANE JONES: Brian, thank you for having me.

We are seeing incredible momentum from our customers that are really bringing to bear the Slack intelligent productivity platform across every line of business.