Salesforce Restricts Slack Data Access to Bolster AI Competitive Edge

Salesforce has moved to limit rival AI firms'' access to Slack customer data, signaling a strategic play in the intensifying artificial intelligence arms race. The cloud software giant acquired Slack in 2021 for $27.7 billion, gaining control of one of enterprise tech''s most valuable communication datasets.

The restrictions could disadvantage AI platforms like Glean that rely on such data for training large language models. Marc Benioff''s firm appears determined to weaponize its data moat as generative AI becomes increasingly central to business software. This mirrors broader industry trends where tech titans guard proprietary data while racing to develop AI capabilities.

Slack''s rich repository of workplace communications offers unique training material for AI systems. By walling off this asset, Salesforce may gain an edge in developing industry-specific AI tools for its customer relationship management platform. The MOVE underscores how data access is becoming a critical battleground in enterprise AI development.