"AI can never cause mass layoffs, it is here to augment workers" says Salesforce CEO: Here's what professionals need to learn to stay afloat

Time of India

21 hours ago

Ever since artificial intelligence has made a grand entry into the corporate world, it has met with applause and raised eyebrows. To some, it feels like a manifestation of science fiction; to others, it is a slow decaying of human purpose.
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Its arrival has coincided with mass layoffs and job descriptions. Numerous job profiles are standing at the precipice of extinction. But is AI truly the lone culprit in the upheaval, or is there a deeper narrative that waits to be dug out?
AI has religiously dominated the headlines, touted as a revolutionary force one moment, and condemned as a job killer the next. Love it or loathe it, the reality remains unchanged: AI is no longer on the horizon; it has already reserved its seats in corporates. And with it comes the inevitable question: What becomes of the human workforce?
This question has sparked a relentless tug of war between dystopian fears and technological optimism. Into this arena steps Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce, a figure renowned for both his trailblazing leadership and unfiltered candor. When asked by Fortune about AI's role in workforce disruption, Benioff offered a response that cut through the noise:
'I keep looking around, talking to CEOs, asking: what AI are they using for these big layoffs?'
Benioff insisted that AI is not a destroyer, but a collaborator.
He said, 'I think AI augments people, but I don't know if it necessarily replaces them.'
In a world that has already bid adieu to traditional jobs, Benioff is putting weight on the need for 'human element.'
"AI cannot replace humans": Why Benioff believes so
Salesforce itself has automated up to 50% of its internal work using AI agents. Around 85% of the customer support tasks are being handled by intelligent systems. Nonetheless, AI is outpacing humans by about 40%. These numbers are staggering, but to Benioff, they're not about headcount reductions; they're about human-machine partnership.
'I keep looking around, talking to CEOs, asking: what AI are they using for these big layoffs?' he said. 'I think AI augments people, but I don't know if it necessarily replaces them.'
The distinction is crucial and timely. AI is increasingly embedded in workflows, but full automation remains elusive. Why? Because accuracy isn't perfect, and context still matters.
The demarcation is pivotal and timely. AI may be faster, but it lacks precision and critical thinking.
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Robots don't come with judgment, and context continues to be the irreplaceable domain of human intelligence.
The rise of the AI collaborator
Rather than a tool of replacement, AI at Salesforce is treated as an intellectual partner. Benioff personally uses it to review business strategies, stress-test assumptions, and find gaps invisible to the naked eye. But even with that utility, there's a line AI can't cross.
'Every AI needs its own fact checker, and those fact checkers are humans, not AIs, because AIs can't fact-check because they don't have that level of accuracy.'
This statement carries a message for the professional; it is high time to hone multiple skills to survive the job market. It highlights a workforce mandate that professionals are no longer just doers; they are validators, interpreters, and strategic decision-makers. The robots are taking over the routine and mundane tasks. While humans have to step up as the decision makers. Human judgment, especially in the age of AI, is not optional, but mandatory.
Big layoffs or bigger opportunity?
Like every other invention, artificial intelligence comes with its own share of apprehensions and awe. While the majority of the working professionals have a question etched in their minds: Can AI replace me? There are various speculations erupting on the forefront. Benioff's comments have led to a silver lining in the dark.
'There's going to potentially be a lot more employment because everybody is augmented and has the ability to do more.
I think there's going to be an explosion of small and medium businesses because they can do more, it's easier to start one, and you can create value more easily.'
This future isn't just for the tech elite. With AI tools lowering entry barriers, think automated marketing, no-code platforms, and generative design, anyone with an idea can now build at scale. That means more founders, more freelancers, more niche service providers, and a reshaped economy where value is generated not by bigness, but by boldness.
Ironically, even as Salesforce freezes hiring in traditional roles like engineering and legal, it continues hiring customer success managers and salespeople, not to build AI, but to help clients adopt it. The message? Those who can teach others how to work with AI are perhaps the most valuable of all.
So, what can professionals do now?
If Benioff's AI optimism holds, the path forward isn't to fight the machines, it's to co-evolve with them. But that transition requires action. Here's how today's workers can begin:
Master the tools, not just the tasks: Get comfortable with AI interfaces, experiment with tools relevant to your industry, and understand what they can and can't do.
Develop prompt intelligence: Knowing how to ask the right questions of AI will soon be more valuable than knowing how to answer them.
Shift from execution to evaluation: Become the human in the loop. Learn how to detect errors, question outputs, and apply judgment that AI lacks.
Invest in soft skills: Empathy, storytelling, ethics, and creativity. These are the new power skills in an automated world.