Salesforce shares fell by more than 6% on Tuesday to trade near $183.98. The CRM stock drop came after Anthropic introduced a Claude feature that can control parts of a user’s computer. Anthropic’s new feature is available in research preview for Claude Code and Claude Cowork on supported macOS devices.
Moreover, the update revived market concerns about how fast-moving AI agents may affect software companies that rely on subscription-based products.
Anthropic announced that Claude Code and Claude Cowork can now perform tasks on supported Mac computers in research preview. The system can open apps, use a web browser, manage files, and perform actions after user approval. Anthropic also connected the feature to Dispatch, which allows tasks to move across devices.
The update quickly drew attention in the market. Investors focused on whether AI agents could take over more tasks that have long depended on workplace software products. This concern pushed software shares lower during the session and renewed a debate that has weighed on the sector for months.
The selling was not limited to Salesforce. Other software companies also fell as traders reassessed how AI may change the role of application-based platforms. The broader software group remained sharply lower for the year, indicating that the pressure has lasted well beyond a single trading day.
Salesforce remained one of the main stocks in focus. The shares traded at $183.98 after sliding 6.72% over five days, moving from the mid-$190s into the low-$180s. The latest decline added to a weak 2026 run for the stock, leaving it below 28% for the year and more than 37% below its 52-week high.
Moreover, the company’s recent results did not fully ease market concerns. Salesforce reported fourth-quarter non-GAAP earnings per share of $3.81, above the $3.05 consensus estimate, while revenue reached $11.2 billion, up 12% from a year earlier. Agentforce, the company’s AI agent platform, reached $800 million in annual recurring revenue and posted 169% quarter-over-quarter growth.
However, the stock remained under pressure after fiscal 2027 revenue guidance of $45.8 billion to $46.2 billion failed to deliver the upside many investors had hoped for. Several firms later reduced price targets, adding to the cautious tone around the shares.
Salesforce has continued to defend its AI strategy. Chief Executive Marc Benioff said, “Anthropic runs its whole operation on Salesforce and Slack,” rejecting the view that AI agents will replace established software platforms. The company also announced a $50 billion share buyback program, with part of the plan backed by new debt.
The wider mood in software stocks has remained strained. Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist at LPL Financial, said in January, “The market is pricing a worst-case scenario that software is dead.” His comment reflected the fear of AI shifting more value away from software applications and toward the intelligence layer.
At the same time, analyst support for Salesforce has remained strong. More than 75% of covering analysts still rate the stock a buy, and the consensus price target has implied roughly 30% upside from recent levels. The gap between analyst forecasts and current trading highlights how divided the outlook remains over Salesforce’s position as AI competition intensifies.
Also Read: Cybercriminals Exploit Guest Access Flaws in Salesforce, ShinyHunters Claim Responsibility