The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is reshaping various industries, from enterprise software to automotive and fashion. In the enterprise space, Salesforce is facing increased competition from ServiceNow as both companies heavily invest in AI capabilities, though Salesforce's stock has seen a notable decline. Jim Cramer also points to AI as a factor in Salesforce's stock performance, suggesting AI is "eating software." Beyond enterprise solutions, AI is poised to transform the automotive sector, with General Motors' Executive Vice President Sterling Anderson envisioning cars as intelligent companions capable of learning driver preferences and anticipating needs. This evolution in autonomous driving, however, presents challenges for insurers, as hands-free driving becomes more prevalent, leading to complex liability questions and high repair costs for advanced vehicles. Companies are leveraging AI to manage IT costs and drive business transformation, with AI applications helping to identify inefficiencies and optimize spending, though new expenses in cloud and software are also emerging. On a broader societal level, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has voiced concerns about the speed of AI development, urging tech leaders like Elon Musk to acknowledge their moral responsibilities and highlighting the lag in regulatory oversight. AI is also streamlining business operations, with agentic AI systems improving invoice collection by prioritizing accounts and automating outreach. In education, Georgia Tech has introduced an AI avatar professor, DAI-vid, to deliver lectures, aiming to augment human educators and democratize learning. The healthcare sector is seeing AI integration, with EssilorLuxottica acquiring eyecare AI firm RetinAI to enhance its health technology offerings. The fashion industry is also embracing AI, as celebrity stylist Meredith Koop invests in Alta, an AI styling platform that uses avatars for visualization. Meanwhile, the question of copyright for AI-generated works is reaching the Supreme Court, with researcher Dr. Stephen Thaler arguing for protection for works created solely by AI. Across these diverse applications, the common thread is the need for AI providers to clearly demonstrate tangible value and return on investment to enterprise customers.
Key Takeaways
- Salesforce is facing significant competition in the enterprise software market from ServiceNow, with both companies focusing on AI, and Salesforce's stock has dropped 27% in 2025.
- Jim Cramer believes AI is impacting software companies like Salesforce, suggesting it's a key factor in their stock performance.
- General Motors envisions AI transforming cars into intelligent companions, with Executive Vice President Sterling Anderson highlighting AI's role in learning driver preferences and enhancing the driving experience.
- The increasing prevalence of hands-free driving in new cars by 2028 is creating insurance complexities regarding liability and high repair costs for advanced vehicles.
- Companies are using AI to manage IT costs and improve efficiency, though this also involves increased cloud and software spending.
- Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz expressed concerns about the rapid pace of AI development, calling for tech leaders like Elon Musk to address their moral responsibilities.
- Agentic AI is being used to speed up invoice collection for businesses by prioritizing accounts and automating outreach.
- EssilorLuxottica has acquired RetinAI, an AI firm specializing in eyecare data management, to bolster its health technology offerings.
- The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether works created solely by artificial intelligence can receive copyright protection, a case brought by AI researcher Dr. Stephen Thaler.
- AI providers are being urged to prove the tangible value and return on investment of their products to enterprise customers.
Jim Cramer: AI is eating software like Salesforce
Jim Cramer believes Salesforce's stock decline is due to the rise of AI in the software industry. He plans to discuss this during his annual pilgrimage to Dreamforce, Salesforce's tech event. Cramer will be attending the event in San Francisco. The discussion will likely focus on how AI is impacting software companies.
Salesforce and ServiceNow face off in AI battle
A major competition is emerging in the enterprise software market between Salesforce and ServiceNow. Salesforce's stock has seen a significant drop of 27% in 2025. This rivalry is heating up as both companies focus on artificial intelligence capabilities. The outcome of this battle could significantly impact the enterprise software landscape.
General Motors executive sees AI's future in your car
Sterling Anderson, General Motors' Executive Vice President of Global Product and Chief Product Officer, believes artificial intelligence will transform cars into intelligent companions. He has a background in developing AI for vehicles at MIT, Tesla, and Aurora. Anderson explains that AI will allow cars to learn driver preferences, anticipate needs, and handle more complex tasks. This will simplify and enhance the driving experience, making cars smarter and more useful over time through over-the-air updates. GM is using millions of miles of data and simulations to advance its AI for safer and more capable autonomous driving systems.
Self-driving car crashes create insurance headaches
As cars become more autonomous, determining liability in crashes is becoming more complex for insurers. Telemetry predicts over half of new US cars will have hands-free driving by 2028, forcing insurers to rethink risk assessments. While crash avoidance systems can save lives, incorrect use or system failures still lead to accidents. Repair costs for these advanced vehicles are high due to expensive sensors and components. Insurers face challenges in evaluating risk when AI systems, which update frequently, are in control, especially when control is passed between human and machine.
Companies use AI to scale operations and control costs
Artificial intelligence is helping companies manage IT costs while driving business transformation. AI applications can reduce spending by identifying hidden costs, optimizing software use, and improving efficiency. However, AI also introduces new expenses like increased cloud and software spending. To manage this, tech leaders are advised to scale AI with discipline, integrate it across operations, and simplify architecture. Early savings from AI can fund further innovation and transformation efforts.
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz worried about AI's rapid growth
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz expressed significant concern about the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. He drew parallels to the slow regulation of social media, warning that AI is progressing too quickly for regulators to keep up. Schultz supports AI adoption but worries about its potential negative impacts. He urged tech leaders like Elon Musk and Satya Nadella to collectively understand their moral responsibility. Schultz believes regulation is needed but is currently lagging far behind the technology's development.
AI agents speed up invoice collection for businesses
Agentic AI is revolutionizing invoice collection by helping teams prioritize accounts, scale outreach, and reduce manual tasks. Billtrust uses AI models with high accuracy to improve payment resolution. Upcoming features will allow for staged outreach based on frequency and channel, increasing effectiveness. AI helps segment and prioritize accounts, allowing collectors to focus on higher-value conversations rather than repetitive tasks. This technology aims to augment staff, not replace them, by handling routine actions and improving customer relationships.
AI professor avatar created for online courses
Georgia Tech professor David Joyner and MIT professor Piotr Mitros have created an AI avatar named DAI-vid to deliver lectures for an online course on generative AI. This AI professor, modeled after Joyner, allows for up-to-date content delivery that can be easily edited. The goal is to augment human teachers, turning them into 'super teachers' who can reach millions of students. This approach aims to democratize teaching and multiply the impact of educators. Students are informed that they are watching an AI-generated presentation.
EssilorLuxottica buys AI eyecare firm RetinAI
EssilorLuxottica has acquired RetinAI, a company specializing in artificial intelligence and data management for eyecare. This move strengthens EssilorLuxottica's presence in health technology. RetinAI develops tools to process data from retinal images and partners with pharmaceutical companies for clinical studies. The acquisition aims to enhance EssilorLuxottica's digitally enabled patient journey. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Stylist Meredith Koop invests in AI fashion platform Alta
Celebrity stylist Meredith Koop, known for dressing Michelle Obama, has invested in Alta, an AI styling platform backed by LVMH. Koop praised Alta's founder, Jenny Wang, for her brilliance and skill in creating the innovative technology. She believes Alta offers unique visualization tools, like avatars, that help clients see outfits realistically. Koop plans to use Alta to digitize wardrobes, plan outfits, and even consider weather and travel plans. She stated that investing in Alta was a 'no-brainer' due to Wang's genius.
AI providers must prove value to enterprises
AI providers need to demonstrate the tangible value of their products to enterprise customers, rather than just describing them. Rebecca Wettemann, CEO and principal analyst at Valoir, discussed this during an interview on Bloomberg Tech. She highlighted the importance of showing how AI solutions can benefit businesses. Wettemann also touched upon Salesforce's efforts in promoting AI adoption within the enterprise sector. The focus is on proving return on investment for AI technologies.
AI researcher asks Supreme Court for copyright protection
Dr. Stephen Thaler, an AI researcher, is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to decide if works created solely by artificial intelligence can receive copyright protection. The case involves an artwork generated by his AI system in 2018, which the U.S. Copyright Office denied copyright for, citing a human authorship requirement. Thaler argues that the law does not explicitly require human authors and that his AI system's output should be protected. He believes excluding AI-generated works could discourage innovation in creative technologies.
Sources
- Jim Cramer Believes Salesforce Declined “Because AI Eats Software”
- Salesforce, ServiceNow Heading For Agentic AI Battle
- Why the future of AI is sitting in your driveway
- Insurers weigh whom to blame when a self-driving car crashes
- Scaling AI While Controlling Tech Costs
- Howard Schultz said he's Worried — 'with a big W'
- AI Agents Chase Invoices Faster Than Finance Teams Can Dial
- The AI 'upskilling tsunami' is coming—and these professors think an AI-generated professor is a big part of the answer
- EssilorLuxottica Buys Eyecare AI, Data Management Firm RetinAI
- Why Michelle Obama's stylist invested in an LVMH-backed AI styling platform: 'It was a no-brainer'
- Convincing Enterprise to Invest in AI
- AI Researcher Asks Supreme Court to Recognize Copyright Protection for Art Created by Artificial Intelligence