What Salesforce's Struggles Reveal About Cloud Software's AI Future

Salesforce's 25% stock decline this year represents more than one company's struggles—it's become the bellwether for the entire cloud software industry's existential crisis in the AI age. As the largest pure-play cloud software company, Salesforce faces the fundamental question: can traditional software companies survive when AI can generate code on demand? Despite disruption fears, the company showed encouraging signs with accelerating revenue growth, record 34.3% operating margins, and 6,000+ Agentforce AI customers. The real test isn't whether AI will disrupt software, but whether software companies can successfully integrate AI to enhance rather than replace their offerings. Salesforce's success or failure in returning to double-digit growth will signal whether the entire cloud software sector can thrive alongside AI or become casualties of the revolution.