Salesforce begins new layoffs tied to AI and Marketing Cloud, underscoring a push toward usage-based software

Salesforce has started another round of layoffs affecting at least 86 employees, with roles in California and other locations reportedly targeted, according to market coverage. The cuts, first reported by Yahoo Finance, are described as concentrated in groups tied to Salesforce’s AI initiatives and parts of its Marketing Cloud business, as well as areas associated with the company’s Agentforce platform.

Agentforce is Salesforce’s branded push for autonomous, AI-driven customer service and sales assistance. In practical terms, the company is positioning these tools to handle tasks that previously required human agents, such as responding to customer inquiries and assisting with sales workflows. Salesforce’s broader bet is that these systems will become a new layer of software across its CRM and related clouds.

The reporting also points to pressure and adaptation around how customers consume software. Salesforce has been moving toward usage-based models, where customers pay in a way that grows with the volume of activity or seats or both, rather than relying only on fixed pricing. In companies’ software strategies, usage-based arrangements are often pursued to reduce friction for customers, while improving revenue alignment as demand for higher-intensity AI and data services increases.

The layoffs described in the report were framed as part of an internal reshaping that puts emphasis on AI and marketing-related product areas. Teams tied to Marketing Cloud, which is Salesforce’s suite for customer engagement and marketing automation, have been at the center of the company’s recent efforts to integrate generative AI into campaign creation, customer targeting, and campaign operations.

Salesforce’s most recent public communications have emphasized AI adoption across its ecosystem. Its newsroom has continued to publish product and leadership updates, reflecting the company’s ongoing effort to translate AI capabilities into packaged offerings that can be sold through its cloud applications. That backdrop is consistent with the idea that internal resources are being redirected toward AI-adjacent teams while other functions are consolidated.

Still, the company has not, in the reported coverage, laid out detailed financial consequences of the cuts. The report centers on the count of impacted employees and the types of teams affected, but it does not provide a clearer breakdown of cost savings, severance expenses, or the specific product roadmaps tied to the restructuring.

For customers and partners, the most important near-term question is how these moves change execution across Salesforce’s AI and marketing products, including Agentforce. A shift toward usage-based models can affect procurement and budgeting decisions, and it can also change how quickly new AI features translate into billable outcomes for customers.

In the weeks ahead, investors and enterprise buyers will likely look for any additional disclosures about the size and scope of the restructuring, as well as further clarity on how Salesforce plans to commercialize its AI platform and pricing strategy. Salesforce typically provides more detail through earnings calls, regulatory filings, and official statements, especially when workforce actions could affect operating expenses or guidance.