Salesforce trims workforce to 83,334 amid $15B AI investment shift

Salesforce reduced its staff to 83,334 by early 2026 after laying off 8,000 employees since 2025 to pivot toward AI-driven solutions and improve profitability. Despite stock declines and workforce cuts, it secured strong adoption of its AI platform and plans a $15 billion AI investment over five years, signaling confidence in long-term growth. Investors include Vanguard and Blackrock; CEO Marc Benioff retains a 2.3% stake, underscoring leadership confidence as the company executes a $50 billion share buyback program amid market challenges.