Salesforce has eliminated 4,000 positions in its customer support division, a move CEO Marc Benioff directly linked to the company’s growing use of artificial intelligence. Benioff confirmed the cuts during an interview released Friday on The Logan Bartlett Show podcast, where he spoke candidly about how AI is reshaping the company’s workforce.

“I’ve reduced it from 9,000 heads to about 5,000, because I need less heads,” Benioff explained, noting that AI tools are taking on many of the tasks previously performed by human staff. The comment underscores a trend spreading across the tech industry: as AI technology becomes more sophisticated, some roles are being automated and companies are scaling back on human labor.

Salesforce, one of the world’s leading customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, has been aggressively integrating AI into its products, branding its suite of tools under the “Einstein” label. The technology is capable of answering client questions, analyzing data, and automating routine support services—functions that previously required large teams of employees.

While Benioff emphasized the efficiency gains, the announcement highlights the growing tension between corporate adoption of AI and concerns about job security. Layoffs of this scale reflect the potential for widespread disruption across industries that rely heavily on administrative, support, and service functions.

The decision also follows a series of cost-cutting measures at Salesforce over the past two years, as the company seeks to streamline operations and maintain profitability in a highly competitive software market. Last year, Salesforce announced one of the largest rounds of layoffs in its history, cutting 10% of its global workforce amid slowing growth and pressure from investors.

Analysts say Benioff’s comments point to a broader shift in how executives view staffing in the age of automation. For companies, AI promises faster response times, lower costs, and scalable services. For workers, however, it raises difficult questions about the future of employment in roles where machines can increasingly take over human responsibilities.

Neither Salesforce nor Benioff specified whether further cuts could be on the horizon as AI adoption expands. Still, the company has made it clear that artificial intelligence will continue to play a central role in its strategy moving forward.