CNBC's Seema Mody joins 'Power Lunch' to break down the AI agent competition between Microsoft and Salesforce.

Redmond

The release of Open AI's ChatGPT has accelerated the development of artificial intelligence and warnings about its impact on society.

Rise of AI

Salesforce and Microsoft are competing in the evolving artificial intelligence agent market. Salesforce's CEO, Mark Benioff, has criticized Microsoft's AI product, Copilot, suggesting it is nothing more than a repackaged tool. In contrast, Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella has been more reserved but hinted that reliance on AI agents might not pay off in the long term.

Both companies have a storied history of rivalry, having competed in areas such as Salesforce's Slack against Microsoft's Teams, and customer relationship management software. The competition is intensifying as each company uses AI to improve customer engagement and productivity. As Salesforce prepares to release its earnings report, the market is eager to see if its AI agent, AgentForce, can gain traction against Microsoft's Copilot.

Salesforce investors are particularly interested in customer reception of AgentForce and how it might impact sales and company growth. The competitive dynamic between these two tech giants suggests the future of AI in business operations could be transformative, with each side striving to lead the way in AI adoption.



Salesforce takes on Microsoft in AI agent race

Welcome back. You know, it's not just NVIDIA. Salesforce also reports after the bell today with the stock about flat over the past 12 months amid all these A.I. headwinds for software. It's negative on the year and the company hasn't been able to ride the A.I. wave quite like some of its rivals. Microsoft is now rubbing some salt in the wound as well. Siva Modi here with the details on this growing feud we're seeing. Hi, Sima. Really fascinating to watch, Kelly. Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff is feuding with Microsoft as it pushes to make its AgentForce the dominant A.I. product over Copilot. Benioff recently calling Microsoft's Copilot a repackaged chat GPT and Clippy 2.0. CEO Satya Nadella has been less willing to outright attack Salesforce's AgentForce, but did suggest on a recent podcast that software companies relying on agents will lose over time. Now, Microsoft's chief communications officer taking it a step further, writing on LinkedIn that Benioff has, quote, no idea what he's talking about. When Salesforce reports earnings tonight, Kelly, investors really want clarity on demand and the pace at which A.I. agents are growing. The latest channel checks from Citi suggest heavy discounting to drive adoption. And, of course, whether the outspoken leader Benioff will use tonight's earnings call to bash its competitor again. So, Sima, I think the larger backdrop here is sort of it's less about, I mean, look, it's always fun to watch these two kind of have at it. But it's an open question right now. I mean, a lot of investors on one side, you have people who say there's no way they're going to, like, outright replace these software names. Software names are going to integrate A.I. to be more sticky with the customer than ever. And then there's others who just say, no, it's going to reinvent the way we do business. And we'll see. Listen, the stakes are high, as you just highlighted. And I think the war of words between these two companies really highlights how how competitive the artificial intelligence landscape is becoming. But also keep in mind that these two companies have history. They've competed when it comes to Salesforce's Slack, which competes with Microsoft's teams, even Salesforce's core customer relationship management software sort of competes with Microsoft's 365 dynamics. So this is something is sort of seen as the next era, right, on A.I. And while Copilot is different than Salesforce's AgentForce, they still have the similar objective, which is to use this cutting edge technology to drive adoption and increase productivity. We'll see who can win in the race. And tonight, what we hear from Benioff on how how receptive customers have been, that will be key to understanding what the future of this company's A.I. product really is. Yeah, this to me, this is what makes markets fun. Figuring out who's going to figure it out. Seema, thanks. Appreciate it. Seema Modi. And don't miss Jim Cramer.

Canada’s Department of National Defence plans to mobilize 300,000 citizen reservists, following commitments made at a NATO summit in Washington, D.C., in 2024 to strengthen military readiness. The proposal, obtained by CBC News, will be presented to the federal government in the coming months.

Ottawa

Canada's military proposes mobilizing a citizens' army of 300,000

The U.S. military seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the ship had been used to violate sanctions on oil from Venezuela and Iran.

Washington

U.S. seizes oil tanker off Venezuela coast

The daughter of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her mother's behalf in Oslo, Norway. Machado, who lives in hiding in Venezuela, is set to make an address on Thursday.

Oslo

Venezuela's Machado awarded Nobel Peace Prize in absentia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is commenting on potential elections in Ukraine under certain conditions. Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst joins CBS News with more on the war against Russia.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy prepared to hold elections after Trump questions motive

A renewed outbreak of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia has derailed a US-brokered peace agreement, with cross-border shelling and air raids forcing more than half a million civilians to flee their homes.

Bangkok

Border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia flares up again

U.S. immigration agents used pepper spray against protesters in Minneapolis on Tuesday as residents blocked the officers’ vehicles and forced them to leave the area.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis protests erupt over ICE operation targeting Somalis

In Australia, millions of kids' social media profiles are going dark, as the country's new social media ban takes effect for anyone under 16. Jo Ling Kent reports.

Canberra

Australia's social media ban takes effect for kids under 16

President Trump, in recent months, has dismissed concerns about affordability, but this evening, in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, he is focusing on the crisis and touting his administration's efforts to lower the cost of living. Nancy Cordes has more.

Pennsylvania

Trump tries to flip the script on affordability

Dozens of protesters blocked a highway near Tel Aviv to demonstrate against moves by the Israeli government to force some ultra-Orthodox Jews into mandatory military service, something they are currently exempt from so they can study the Torah full time.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Bill over ultra-Orthodox military conscription sparks protests in Israel

President Trump has told Politico that Nicolas Maduro's "days are numbered" in Venezuela. Political strategists Kevin Sheridan and Hyma Moore join with analysis.

Trump says Maduro’s “days are numbered”

The FBI has released a new photo of former Olympian Ryan Wedding, whom the bureau’s director has described as a “modern day iteration of Pablo Escobar.” The ex-skier and snowboarder remains at large as agents continue their search.

FBI releases new photo of alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Pope Leo XIV and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Tuesday (December 9), meanwhile voicing his refusal to surrender territory to Moscow despite pressure from Washington for territorial concessions.

Rome

Zelenskyy seeks backing from Pope Leo XIV, Italian PM Meloni

A federal judge said Tuesday (December 9) that the Department of Justice can unseal the Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking case records. CBS News' Scott MacFarlane has more details.

Judge says DOJ can unseal Ghislaine Maxwell trafficking case records

Prosecutors on Monday (December 8) released new evidence seized from Luigi Mangione on the day of his arrest. He is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson a year ago and has pleaded not guilty.

Manhattan

New evidence introduced in Luigi Mangione case

The EU antitrust enforcer has opened an investigation into the U.S. tech giant over its use of online content to power its AI services, a move that threatens to ratchet up transatlantic relations.

Brussels

EU Commission opens probe into Google over AI

The U.S. government said the approval, which comes in exchange for a 25% surcharge, would also be available to other chipmakers like Intel and AMD.

Trump gives Nvidia green light to sell H200 chips to China

Ukraine is set to present a revised peace plan to the United States on Tuesday following President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s talks in London with the leaders of France, Germany, and Britain.

London

Ukraine to share revised peace plan with U.S., Zelenskiy says

The International Criminal Court Tuesday handed down a sentence of 20 years to a Sudanese militia leader for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country's civil war two decades ago.

ICC sentences Sudan militia chief for crimes against humanity

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday (December 8) unveiled a $12 billion aid package for American farmers, the latest government effort to shore up a key political constituency hurt by the financial fallout from his trade policies.

Trump unveils $12 billion aid package for farmers hit by trade war

Thailand and Cambodia are blaming one another for starting a deadly exchange of fire that killed at least five people and threatens to unravel a U.S.-backed ceasefire between the neighbouring southeast Asian countries.

Surin

Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire could be unravelling

Paramount Skydance made a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery for $108 billion US just days after Netflix announced it made a $72-billion US deal with the legacy studio. It’s a move that even has U.S. President Donald Trump weighing in.

Hollywood

Paramount launches hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros.

President Trump announced Monday he will allow Nvidia to sell its advanced H200 computer chips to "approved customers" in China, but Mr. Trump said the deal does not include Nvidia's more advanced Blackwell system or its soon-to-be-released Rubin system.

Trump says he's letting Nvidia sell some AI chips to China

Ukraine's European allies put on a show of support for President Volodymyr Zelensky Monday as they expressed scepticism about parts of the U.S. proposal to end the war with Russia. The discussions came after President Donald Trump accused Zelensky of not reading his administration's proposal on a deal to end Russia's invasion following almost four years of war.

Downing Street

European allies back Zelensky after Trump criticism

A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake shook northeastern Japan late on Monday (December 8), prompting orders for about 90,000 residents to evacuate and tsunami warnings that hours later were downgraded to advisories.

Aomori

7.5-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan's northeast

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday (December 8) that unity between Europe, Ukraine and the U.S. was important when negotiating an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. He made the remark during a visit to London.

Kyiv stresses European unity as allies 'skeptical' of U.S. peace plan

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies prepared to hold talks in London on Monday (December 8), after President Donald Trump accused him of not reading the U.S. proposal to end the war with Russia.

Zelenskyy to meet European allies after Trump criticism

Thailand has launched airstrikes on Cambodian military sites as renewed border violence threatens a U.S.-backed peace deal.

Renewed border violence threatens Thai-Cambodia peace

South African authorities have withdrawn a 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians, saying the recent arrival of a charter flight with 153 people onboard was part of a campaign of “forced migration.”

Johannesburg

Middle East Conflict

South Africa withdraws 90-days visa exemption for Palestinians

Chinese and Japanese ties came under further strain after a Chinese fighter aircraft trained fire-control radar on Japanese military jets for the first time.

Okinawa

Chinese fighter jet locks radar on Japan planes

A military coup declared in Benin on Sunday has failed, the country’s interior minister said, just hours after soldiers took over state television to announce the dissolution of government.

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Rise of AI