Salesforce Tightens Grip on Slack Data to Block AI Rivals

In a bold move to protect its competitive edge in the AI race, Salesforce (CRM) has reportedly restricted access to Slack data for rival artificial intelligence (AI) firms. According to The Information, the decision to restrict access to Slack customer data signals that Salesforce may be aiming to use this valuable data to fuel its AI initiatives. The move could have far-reaching implications for enterprise collaboration, data privacy, and the broader AI arms race.

For context, Slack is a cloud-based team communication platform acquired by Salesforce in 2021. It serves as a vital collaboration hub for millions of users.

Salesforce Sparks AI Data War

As companies increasingly rely on proprietary data to train large language models (LLMs), Salesforce’s decision signals a growing trend of tech giants locking down their data ecosystems to maintain control and leverage in the fast-evolving AI landscape. In recent years, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has been steering the company beyond traditional cloud computing, focusing on data-driven machine learning and generative AI to stay ahead in the fast-changing tech world.

The report stated that after the changes, AI platforms like Glean and similar apps could no longer index, copy, or store data accessed through the Slack API for long-term use. Meanwhile, Glean noted that this restriction will stop customers from adding Slack data to their Glean search index or knowledge graph, limiting their ability to fully use that data with their preferred enterprise AI tools.

Salesforce Eyes Data Privacy

The report also stated that companies will only be allowed to temporarily use and store their customers’ Slack data. However, they must delete it afterward, a move aimed at protecting customer privacy.

Earlier in May, Salesforce announced it was strengthening safeguards on how data accessed through Slack APIs is stored, used, and shared, emphasizing its commitment to tighter data control and user privacy.

Notably, AI companies are facing growing scrutiny over how they handle personal and customer data to train their models. As the demand for high-quality training data rises, companies are under pressure to strike a balance between innovation and user trust.

Is Salesforce a Good Stock to Buy?

Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus rating on CRM stock based on 34 Buys, 10 Holds, and three Sells assigned in the past three months. The average CRM price target of $348.49 per share implies a 30% upside potential.

Year-to-date, CRM stock has declined by almost 20%.

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