From ‘Parasites’ to ‘SaaSquatch,’ Salesforce and Workday Leaders Take Swipes at AI Rivals

Leaders from Salesforce, Workday and Snowflake tried different tactics this week to show they’re benefiting from AI and will emerge as winners—even though their fast-growing AI products aren’t boosting overall revenue growth, fueling concerns known as the SaaSpocalpyse. (See details of their financial results here, here and here.) 

Some leaders signaled that AI was prompting layoffs at their firms or among customers, previously a taboo subject. Some also used unusually sharp language in denouncing rivals, perhaps reflecting the way AI products have sparked competition between software firms that didn’t used to compete head-on.