Salesforce Restricts Access to Slack Data Amid AI Competition

In a strategic move to maintain its competitive edge in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, Salesforce has reportedly restricted access to Slack data for rival AI firms. This decision, as reported by multiple sources including The Information and Reuters, aims to block competitors from utilizing Slack customer data, which could potentially enhance their AI capabilities.

Key Developments:

  • Salesforce’s Restriction: Salesforce, which owns Slack, has blocked other software firms from searching or storing Slack messages, even if their customers permit such actions. This move is seen as a direct effort to hamper rival enterprise AI firms like Glean, which rely on such data for long-term indexing and storage.

  • Impact on Rivals: The restriction is expected to significantly impact companies that integrate with Slack for AI-driven insights and analytics. By limiting access to Slack data, Salesforce aims to protect its own AI initiatives from being bolstered by competitors.

  • Market Reaction: While specific market reactions were not detailed, the move underscores the intense competition in the AI space, with major players like Salesforce taking decisive actions to safeguard their technological advancements.

Additional Context:

  • Slack’s Role: Slack Technologies Inc., an American company, is known for its communication and collaboration software that integrates with various third-party applications. The platform’s widespread use in businesses makes it a valuable asset for AI development.

  • Financial Overview: As of June 11, 2025, Slack Technologies Inc. is listed on the Bolsa Mexicana De Valores Mexican Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of 26.52 billion MXN. The company’s price-to-earnings ratio stands at -102.08, reflecting its current financial metrics.

Other Related News:

  • Laurel’s Funding: In related AI news, Laurel, a company that uses AI to analyze how workers spend their time by integrating with tools like Slack, raised $100 million in a Series C funding round led by IVP, valuing the company at $510 million.

  • Slack Outage: Earlier in the week, Slack experienced a widespread outage on Monday morning, causing disruptions for users worldwide. The outage led to a mix of frustration and humor among employees, with many sharing memes about the situation.

This development highlights the ongoing strategic maneuvers in the tech industry as companies vie for dominance in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.