Software giant Salesforce announced a $15 billion investment in San Francisco over the next five years. The funding is intended to strengthen the city’s position in artificial intelligence and was announced ahead of its Dreamforce conference.
“This $15 billion investment reflects our deep commitment to our hometown—advancing AI innovation, creating jobs, and helping companies and our communities thrive in this incredible new era,” said Salesforce Chief Executive Marc Benioff in a statement. The investment occurs as the focus on artificial intelligence has intensified, highlighting San Francisco as a hub for tech companies like Salesforce and ChatGPT developer OpenAI.
The announcement preceded the company’s annual Dreamforce conference, which runs through Thursday. According to a Salesforce news release, the event is projected to bring nearly 50,000 people to the city. The release also stated the conference is expected to generate $130 million in revenue for San Francisco and create 35,000 local jobs.
Salesforce’s investment will fund a new hub on its San Francisco campus dedicated to workforce development and training. On the social media platform X, Benioff posted that the investment will help “build a greater, safer city for everyone.”
We’re doubling down on San Francisco & Oakland — investing $15B to build a greater, safer city for everyone. Proud to be: Largest employer. Largest philanthropist. Supporting our San Francisco & Oakland public hospitals, schools & parks. Leading others to follow @PledgeOne. 🌉❤️…
— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) October 13, 2025
Last week, Benioff told the New York Times he thought President Trump should send the National Guard to help reduce crime in the city after the president said Democrats had “destroyed” the city.
The rise of artificial intelligence has also fueled anxiety about the automation of certain jobs, including in customer service and software engineering, amid company job cuts. This comes as the competition to dominate the AI sector heats up among technology companies making other commitments to San Francisco.
In September, Benioff said Salesforce reduced its support roles from 9,000 to 5,000 because AI agents are automating tasks. He previously stated that AI is now performing 30% to 50% of the company’s work, illustrating the technology’s integration into its operations.
A July report from the Brookings Institution called the San Francisco and San Jose metropolitan areas “superstars” for AI readiness. The Washington, D.C., think tank examined data such as venture capital funding, AI job postings, and the number of computer science degree holders in the region. The report noted that more AI-ready metro areas have to be wary of AI replacing jobs as technology reshapes the way people work.
