While AI threatens many software companies, those built on strong network effects (like Slack) could become even more vital. AI agents will need to use these platforms as tools to perform tasks, solidifying their position as the central hub of work.

Salesforce is navigating the AI transition by championing a hybrid model of "apps and agents." This strategy positions its traditional software ("apps" for humans) as the foundation, which is now extended and made more powerful by AI ("agents"). This narrative preserves the value of their core offerings while embracing AI's productivity gains.

The key differentiator in AI is moving beyond model power to how seamlessly it's integrated into daily workflows. Tools like Claude Tag, which embeds AI into Slack, lower the barrier for non-technical users and prove that user experience and contextual integration are becoming primary drivers of value.

Experts argue Salesforce's AI strategy is flawed. Instead of building competing models, it should focus on making its platform indispensable for agents from OpenAI and Anthropic. This positions Salesforce as the essential 'venue' where humans and AI interact, increasing the value of its core subscription without competing directly with frontier labs.

Instead of confining users to its app, Linear's first homegrown agent was built for Slack's interface. This user-centric strategy embeds workflows into existing habits—like summarizing a long Slack thread into tickets—acknowledging that work happens across an ecosystem of tools.

In a highly competitive AI market, GitHub differentiates itself by prioritizing "developer choice." Instead of locking users into Microsoft's ecosystem, it actively partners with rivals like Anthropic and OpenAI, ensuring developers can use their preferred models and tools on the GitHub platform.

Salesforce is countering the threat of AI building better user interfaces by making its own platform "headless." This allows developers to use tools like Claude to build custom front-ends on top of Salesforce's robust backend, neutralizing the "clunky UI" complaint and making the platform more indispensable.

The race in enterprise AI isn't just about agent capabilities, but about owning the central dashboard where employees direct agents across all applications (Salesforce, Jira, etc.). Companies like OpenAI and Microsoft are vying to become this primary interface, controlling the customer relationship and relegating other apps to the background.

The threat of AI models replicating SaaS features is real. Superhuman's defense isn't a superior core technology but a platform strategy. The bet is that users won't build their own tools if the platform offers a powerful network effect of pre-built, integrated agents that work everywhere, creating a defensible ecosystem.