Microsoft, a tech giant, has been making significant investments in AI technology. In fact, the company is even planning to reopen a nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania to power its AI initiatives. However, not everyone is impressed with Microsoft’s efforts. Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce, a major competitor in the enterprise space, has criticized Microsoft for what he perceives as a lackluster approach to AI development.
In a recent episode of the Masters of Scale Rapid Response podcast, Benioff expressed his disappointment with Microsoft’s AI product, Copilot. He claimed that Copilot fails to deliver value to customers and only creates confusion among Salesforce’s clientele. Benioff went as far as to compare Copilot to Microsoft’s old office assistant, Clippy, which was discontinued in 2007.
Despite Benioff’s criticisms, Microsoft claims that companies like Visa, Honda, and Pfizer are actively using Copilot in their operations. The tech giant has also made significant investments in AI, including a $13 billion investment in OpenAI. These efforts demonstrate Microsoft’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI technology.
While Benioff may have reservations about Microsoft’s AI initiatives, it’s clear that both companies are at the forefront of innovation in the tech industry. As competition heats up, it will be interesting to see how Microsoft and Salesforce continue to push the boundaries of AI technology.
Marc Benioff. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images