Salesforce (CRM) is hitting the brakes on hiring engineers, customer service agents, and lawyers in 2025, as artificial intelligence (AI) takes center stage. CEO Marc Benioff confirmed the move at the AI for Good Summit in Geneva. The news was reported by the British newspaper, The Observer.
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Benioff said, “We’re able to reshape our company. By the end of the year, it’ll look a lot different than it did at the beginning.”
Freeze Is Not Permanent
Importantly, the CEO clarified that the hiring freeze is not permanent but strategic. “We’re saying, wait a minute and let the AI productivity really take hold,” Benioff explained. He expects Salesforce’s hiring plans will shift again as AI integration deepens throughout the company.
Importantly, CRM has deployed around 9,000 AI agents to handle customer service tasks, matching the output of its human support team over the past nine months.
CRM Expanding Its Sales Team
While engineering and legal roles are on hold, Salesforce is actively expanding its sales team to support new AI tools. This shift comes after cutting 1,000 jobs in February to make space for more AI-driven positions.
Overall, Benioff sees AI as a game-changer for small and medium businesses, saying it will break down barriers and make starting and growing a business much easier for new entrepreneurs.
Is CRM a Buy, Hold, or Sell?
Turning to Wall Street, CRM stock has a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on 34 Buys, nine Holds, and three Sells assigned in the last three months. At $347.31, the average Salesforce stock price target implies a 26.92% upside potential.
