Dreamforce 2025 Preview: The Cloud CRM Carnival

Welcome back, tech conference roadies – this time we’re trading Vegas casinos for San Francisco’s concrete jungle. After previewing MWC’s 5G circus, Oracle’s AI-palooza, and Cloudflare’s cloud carnival, we’ve saved the biggest (and furriest) for last: Dreamforce 2025. Yes, Salesforce’s annual cloud CRM carnival is rolling into downtown SF with its usual blend of overhyped tech, philanthropic fluff, and mascot overload. Think Burning Man for enterprise software, where 45,000+ Trailblazers from 140 countries swarm the Moscone Center to worship at the altar of AI, Data Cloud, Slack and CRM[1]. (If you thought Inception was mind-bending, try navigating a Salesforce keynote without getting lost in buzzwords.)

This year’s theme? Trusted AI and the “Agentic Enterprise,” which is Salesforce-speak for “we glued AI onto everything and gave it a cute name.” We’ve already seen the warm-ups – MWC had incremental 5G, Oracle showed off cloud AI, Cloudflare flexed on security – but Dreamforce is the main act where Salesforce tries to one-up them all. Expect three days of back-to-back keynotes, 1,500+ sessions, and enough marketing confetti to blot out the Golden Gate. Strap in as we preview Dreamforce 2025 with equal parts insight and irreverence. (Drinking game suggestion: take a shot every time you hear “AI” – on second thought, don’t, your liver won’t survive Day 1.)

In classic Dreamforce style, the city is bracing itself: Howard Street will shut down for the Salesforce block party, and Marc Benioff has once again enlisted the Mayor to tidy up the neighborhood (lest he threaten to move the conference, as he did amid San Francisco’s woes last year[2]). The stage is set for a wild ride of Salesforce AI announcements, big-name speakers, product reveals, and probably an Astro mascot lurking around every corner. Let’s dive into the spectacle – with tongue firmly in cheek – and see what Dreamforce 2025 has in store.

1. Keynotes and Headliners: The Big Cloud Circus Acts
2. Major Announcements: What’s in the Salesforce Crystal Ball
3. Expo Floor: Demos, Booths, and Cloud Carnivals
4. Rumors and PR Wildcards: Surprises, Stunts and Speculation
5. Breakout Sessions: What (and What Not) to Attend
6. Why Dreamforce Still Matters (Mascots and All)

Keynotes and Headliners: The Big Cloud Circus Acts

The Dreamforce keynotes are the stuff of legend – part tech evangelism, part variety show. Front and center is of course Marc Benioff, Salesforce’s larger-than-life co-founder and CEO, who will kick things off in the opening keynote with his trademark enthusiasm and folksy-meets-futurist vibe. Benioff is known to drop grandiose one-liners (“We want to build the trusted AI platform…this is our life’s work[3]”) and occasionally a curveball (remember when he warned Dreamforce could abandon SF if the city didn’t shape up[2]?). This year, expect Marc to double down on how “AI + Data + CRM + Trust” (the 2023 mantra[4]) has evolved into “everyone’s an Einstein… now with autonomous agents!” He’ll tout Salesforce’s AI leadership while subtly dunking on rivals for being less ethical or secure[3]. Translation: Salesforce’s AI is angelic, others’ AI is sketchy. Classic.

Joining Benioff onstage will be a parade of Salesforce executives and special guests. Clara Shih, CEO of Salesforce AI, is a likely co-star given her role in the new Agentforce initiative (and her penchant for phrases like “leaving the era of disconnected copilots behind”[5]). We anticipate Parker Harris (Salesforce co-founder) to appear in a tech keynote capacity, possibly showing off under-the-hood platform magic to satisfy the geek crowd. David Schmaier (Chief Product Officer) or other cloud chiefs might pop up to dive into Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, etc., all rebranded with AI pixie dust. And let’s not forget Aliisa Rosenthal – hypothetically the “Chief Trust Officer” – primed to reassure everyone that Salesforce’s AI won’t leak your secrets or go rogue (because Trust has been the company’s favorite buzzword since forever).

Dreamforce loves mixing tech with celebrity sparkle, so expect headline speakers from outside the Salesforce bubble too. In past years we’ve seen everyone from actor Matthew McConaughey to astronaut Jane Goodall to OpenAI’s Sam Altman grace the stage[6][7]. For 2025, rumor has it Sam Altman might return for an AI fireside chat – after all, nothing says “we’re serious about AI” like hosting the ChatGPT poster child. There’s also likely to be a prominent political or humanitarian figure: perhaps a climate activist or a former world leader to talk ethics and the greater good (Dreamforce has previously featured the likes of Al Gore and Barack Obama). We wouldn’t be shocked if Arianna Huffington or another business guru shows up to talk about wellbeing in the era of AI – Salesforce loves sprinkling in some mindfulness among the tech talk. And since Salesforce has a thing for entertainment icons, keep eyes peeled for a Hollywood celebrity or musician cameo. In 2023 they had director Spike Lee and actress Viola Davis[6]; maybe 2025 brings a surprise appearance by a pop culture figure (our snarky bet: perhaps will.i.am again, since he’s both a tech entrepreneur and was literally on the Dreamforce stage before[6]). Whoever it is, expect a dash of inspiration and probably a plug for philanthropy or social good – it’s part of the Dreamforce formula.

The tech themes headlining every keynote will be shouted from the rooftops: AI, AI, and more AI. If 2023 was “the largest AI event in the world” with “Now everyone is an Einstein”[8], then 2025 is the year those Einsteins become full-fledged “Agents.” Generative AI, predictive AI, AI in your coffee, you name it. Specifically, Salesforce Einstein Copilot (the AI assistant launched last year) will get its victory lap – we’ll hear how it’s now embedded in every cloud, answering millions of natural-language questions, writing emails, even drafting code. But the real star is Einstein’s bigger, bolder cousin: Agentforce. Every keynote will hammer home how autonomous AI agents are transforming work. Expect flashy demos of a Sales Agent closing a deal or a Service Agent resolving a customer issue without human help (with Marc & team onstage acting out the customer’s delight, no doubt). And yes, Data Cloud will share the limelight as the “fuel” for all this AI – you’ll hear stats about trillions of records unified[9] and sub-second processing speeds[10] that make these AI feats possible.

Other top themes: Customer 360 (Salesforce’s catch-all for integration) will be portrayed as even more unified thanks to AI, Slack will be hailed as the new command center for work (now with AI summaries and agents in your channels), and the evergreen CRM will be dressed up as cutting-edge (CRM trends 2025: it’s all AI-driven and hyper-personalized). They’ll likely touch on trust and ethics too – perhaps unveiling updated AI usage guidelines or touting their “Tenets of Trusted AI”[11], ensuring us that Skynet isn’t on the Dreamforce agenda. And in true Dreamforce fashion, there might be a heartwarming segment – a nonprofit using Salesforce to do good, or a customer success story meant to draw applause (or tears, if they really nail the emotional angle).

Between the tech talk, watch for entertainment interludes. In past years we’ve seen surprise musical performances on keynote stage and motivational segments (like Dreampitch winners or a quirky robot demo to show off 5G in 2018). Don’t be surprised if a robot or AI avatar makes a cameo this year to wow the crowd – maybe an AI-generated Einstein hologram saying hello? (Hey, stranger things have happened at Dreamforce). And of course, Day 2 will feature the “Agentforce Keynote”, a deeper dive on all things agents, likely led by Clara Shih and product GMs. By then, the hype will be dialed up to 11 with live demos of Agentforce in different industries. Marc Benioff typically returns for a fireside chat on another day too – last year it was multiple days of Marc interviewing guests. Perhaps this year he’ll sit down with a notable tech CEO or even a controversial figure (someone call Elon Musk? We kid… although picturing Elon via hologram addressing the crowd about X/Twitter integration with Salesforce would certainly break the internet).

In short, Dreamforce 2025’s keynotes will be a mash-up of vision and spectacle: Salesforce’s top brass championing AI and data, celebrity guests adding sizzle, and live demos to prove the magic is real (with a heavy dose of “trust us, it actually works”). Our advice for viewers: enjoy the show, cheer the cool stuff, but keep your snark filter on – between the self-congratulatory pats on the back and buzzword bingo, you’ll find nuggets of real insight. Just maybe have a mascot (Astro or Codey) to hug when the hype gets too thick.

Major Announcements: What’s in the Salesforce Crystal Ball

Dreamforce is Salesforce’s annual product Oprah moment: “You get an AI! You get an AI! Everyone gets an AI!” They will unveil plenty of goodies – some genuinely innovative, others basically rebranded old features with a fresh coat of cloud-colored paint. Here’s what’s on our radar for major announcements at Dreamforce 2025 (bring your salt shaker for the inevitable marketing spin):

Agentforce Goes Prime Time: Last year was the “world premiere” of Agentforce[12], and it stole the show. In 2025, Agentforce isn’t the new kid anymore – it’s the linchpin of Salesforce’s AI strategy. We expect Salesforce to announce Agentforce general availability across core clouds and showcase new types of agents beyond the initial batch. The first wave gave us Sales, Service, Marketing, and Commerce Agents[13] (e.g. an AI Sales Development Rep that chats with prospects 24/7, and a Service Agent handling support queries autonomously). Now, rumor has it Agents for other domains are coming. Don’t be surprised if they unveil a “Platform Agent” (an AI assistant for Salesforce admins/developers) or an “IT Agent” aimed at tasks like tech support or IT service management – a clear shot at ServiceNow’s turf, given recent signals[14]. Marc Benioff will likely tout Agentforce as the “third wave of AI”, claiming it goes beyond the copilot craze into true autonomy[15].

Expect a lot of chest-thumping on Agentforce’s progress: perhaps stats like “Agents have handled X million interactions in pilot” or a case study of a customer who scaled customer service with an AI army. Salesforce will also emphasize how easy it is – “build an AI agent in minutes with just a few clicks!” – showcasing the Agentforce Studio tools. We’ve heard about Agent Builder, Prompt Builder, Model Builder forming a low-code trifecta for customizing agents[16]. Dreamforce may demo a non-developer configuring an agent live on Slack (likely using that “Atlas” AI brain under the hood to generate steps[17][18]). And speaking of Atlas, that internal codename for the AI reasoning engine will probably resurface in announcements – perhaps “Atlas 2.0” with improved decision-making and even lower hallucination rates. Salesforce won’t miss the chance to claim their agents are “low-hallucination, trusted AI” that you can actually rely on[15].

Einstein Copilot Grows Up: Lest we forget, before Agentforce stole the spotlight, Einstein Copilot was Salesforce’s big AI assistant reveal. At Dreamforce 2025, Copilot will get significant updates – even if couched under the Agentforce umbrella. We anticipate announcements of Einstein Copilot becoming generally available across the entire Customer 360 portfolio. So, your Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Tableau tools all have that friendly AI side panel ready to answer questions and generate content[19][20]. Look for Salesforce to showcase new Copilot capabilities: perhaps it can now summarize multi-step sales deals, draft more nuanced emails (“in Pirate speak” for Talk Like a Pirate Day, anyone?), or auto-fill CRM data based on unstructured inputs. They might also introduce Copilot for Industries – imagine an AI that knows, say, banking lingo vs. retail lingo when assisting users, drawing on those 100+ industry prompt templates Salesforce bragged about[21]. In short, Einstein Copilot updates will focus on making it smarter, more context-aware and deeply integrated. We expect to hear that it’s “no longer just in pilot” but delivering productivity gains (30% more productive sales teams, etc., cue some IDC study stat).

One likely highlight: Einstein Copilot + Slack integration. Last year Slack got AI features like channel recaps and the ability to converse with CRM data[22][23]. This year, we foresee Copilot directly in Slack – so you can ask the AI in a Slack channel to pull up customer info or draft a deal summary, without opening Salesforce proper. Essentially, Slack becomes the universal interface for Einstein. And given Slack’s trajectory, possibly an announcement of Slack as a “Work OS” powered by AI – including that nifty feature where channels can have AI agents as members[23]. The line between Einstein Copilot and Agentforce might blur here, as Salesforce pitches that whether you want a human-in-the-loop helper (Copilot) or a fully autonomous agent, they’ve got you covered.

Data Cloud Supersized: It wouldn’t be Dreamforce without news on the Salesforce Data Cloud (formerly known as Genie, among other names[24]). Data Cloud is the real-time customer data platform underpinning all this AI magic. In 2025, expect Salesforce to announce even bigger, faster data capabilities. Last year they wowed us with 200+ pre-built data connectors and sub-second processing[25] – this year they’ll push that further. We predict announcements of new data integrations (perhaps connectors to more legacy systems or even direct pipelines to social media data for marketing use cases). They might unveil Edge Data Processing, letting Data Cloud ingest and react to events at the network edge for IoT scenarios – useful for industries like manufacturing or logistics.

Another safe bet: expanded unstructured data support. In 2024 they added native processing for video and audio to glean insights from calls and recordings[26]. By 2025, maybe they’ll include image and document understanding – e.g. Data Cloud can analyze support email attachments or product images to feed AI recommendations. Also, with generative AI in play, perhaps Vector Database updates will get a shout (Salesforce introduced vector search for embedding-based AI last year[26]). Dreamforce might highlight how Data Cloud’s vector store now seamlessly connects to Einstein/Atlas to improve those “AI answers” with semantic search – all while keeping it secure and enterprise-grade, naturally.

And of course, scale, scale, scale. Marc Benioff will likely boast how Data Cloud can handle trillions of records and events in real-time. If last year was sub-second, maybe this year they’ll claim “near-instant AI” – as in, the moment something happens (like a customer browsing your website), the AI knows and acts. They could demo a scenario: a customer adds an item to cart, Data Cloud triggers a Flow in milliseconds, Einstein Copilot sends a Slack alert to the sales rep and Agentforce’s Marketing Agent shoots them a promo offer – all before the customer blinks. It’s the kind of flashy cross-cloud orchestration that makes for a great onstage demo, even if in reality it requires flawless setup. Expect heavy emphasis on Data + AI synergy (we might hear the old “AI is only as good as the data” line a few more times[27]). In summary, Data Cloud news will be about making the Customer 360 data foundation faster, richer, and more ready for AI so that Salesforce can say their platform is uniquely positioned to deliver these AI-driven experiences.

Vertical Clouds and Industry AIs: Salesforce has built numerous industry-specific clouds (Financial Services Cloud, Health Cloud, Manufacturing, etc.), and Dreamforce is when they often add to that family. In 2023 they launched a new Life Sciences Cloud[28]; in 2024, they integrated AI use cases for many industries[21]. For 2025, we expect further vertical specialization. Possible announcements: maybe a Public Sector Cloud upgrade (to help governments with AI case management), or a formal Automotive Cloud (Salesforce has dabbled in automotive CRM, perhaps now packaging it with AI for dealerships and connected cars). Another candidate is an Education Cloud revamp with AI-driven student engagement tools, since every sector wants in on AI.

More interestingly, Salesforce will push “Out-of-the-Box AI Agents” for industries. They hinted at 100+ industry prompt templates and an Industry AI library[21] – this could evolve into ready-made Agentforce modules. For instance, Banking Agent, Retail Store Agent, Healthcare Agent etc., pre-trained with common industry tasks. In fact, partners like IBM are already creating Banking Agents on Salesforce[29]. We anticipate Salesforce announcing a catalog of pre-built agents or workflows for top industries, which customers can deploy with minimal tuning. It’s a smart play: appeal to business execs who just want a plug-and-play AI that speaks their industry’s language. So don’t be surprised if part of the keynote is a montage like: “Meet Fin the Finance Agent helping process loans with compliance! Meet Merlin the Manufacturing Agent optimizing factory schedules!” – complete with cutesy mascots for each (Salesforce can’t resist a new mascot opportunity).

Additionally, keep an ear out for big customer testimonials by industry. Dreamforce loves to bring on stage, say, a financial services CEO or a retail executive to brag how Salesforce’s AI increased their revenue or efficiency. These often foreshadow new vertical features. If a healthcare exec talks about patient outreach via AI, maybe a Patient 360 AI module is being announced. Salesforce will weave these into the narrative to show that CRM trends in 2025 are about tailored AI per industry. It’s all about convincing every sector that Salesforce has their bespoke AI solution ready to go.

Platform and Developer Tools – Low Code, Pro Code, Your Code, AI Code: Developers and admins, fear not – Dreamforce will have goodies for you too (beneath the biz buzz). One big likely announcement is Agentforce Vibes – Salesforce’s new “vibe coding” tool that lets developers use natural language to generate code and configurations[30]. This was actually unveiled just ahead of Dreamforce 2025: an AI-powered VS Code extension called Vibe Codey that can write Apex, flows, or Lightning components from plain English prompts[31]. At Dreamforce, they’ll hype how Agentforce Vibes accelerates development: a dev can describe an app or feature, and an AI agent writes the skeleton code, complete with enterprise security and coding standards baked in[32][33]. Essentially, Salesforce is jumping on the “AI pair programmer” trend (à la GitHub Copilot) but branding it in their ecosystem. We expect a live demo where a developer says “Build a new custom object and form for Property Listings” and Vibe Codey does it in seconds – likely to much applause from the dev crowd (and some cautious side-eye from developers who know the AI might not handle all the edge cases).

Beyond Vibes, there will be enhancements to the core Salesforce Platform. Perhaps a preview of the next-gen Flow Builder with AI assistance – imagine the flow tool suggesting automation steps for you based on common patterns (Salesforce did announce free AI training and certifications[34] to get more people comfortable with this stuff). They might also talk about improvements to DevOps Center or deployment processes, making it easier to sandbox and test AI-driven features. And since Salesforce has been investing in metadata and APIs, maybe an announcement about more open APIs for Data Cloud or GraphQL support for querying Salesforce data (this has been an ask from devs – Dreamforce might slip in a mention of modern API capabilities amid the AI frenzy).

One interesting angle: Salesforce might introduce or expand a concept of an AI AppExchange – we saw mention of an AppExchange Agentforce collection[35] and partner-built agents. In 2025, they might formally launch a marketplace for third-party AI components. Think templates, prompts, or even entire agents built by ISVs that customers can install. So a developer or partner could build a specialized agent (e.g., “Inventory Restock Agent”) and list it on AppExchange. This fosters the ecosystem and gives Salesforce another bragging point: “thousands of AI extensions available, so you don’t have to start from scratch.” Look out for partnerships here – maybe a demo of installing a partner’s AI agent from AppExchange and it instantly working within Salesforce.

Lastly, governance and ethics tools deserve a mention. Salesforce might announce new features in the platform for AI governance – like an AI usage dashboard for admins to monitor how often AI is used and its outcomes, or tools to set organizational policies (e.g., “our AI cannot auto-send emails without approval”). They’ve been big on “Trusted AI” rhetoric[11], so delivering actual admin controls or auditing features would back that up. This could be packaged as an update to their AI Cloud offering (Salesforce launched “AI Cloud” as a marketing bundle – expect an update that AI Cloud now includes all these trust layers and tools by default).

Ecosystem and Integrations – Friends in Cloudy Places: Major announcements often include how Salesforce is playing nicely with others (or at least, the others who aren’t direct competitors). We know from 2023 that Salesforce expanded partnerships with Google Cloud and AWS[36][37]. In 2025, look for these partnerships to deepen:

• Salesforce × Google: Possibly an announcement that Salesforce will integrate Google’s next-gen Gemini AI models into Einstein/Agentforce[38][39]. This means customers could choose Google’s large language model via Vertex AI for their Salesforce agents, which would be a big deal since Gemini is poised to rival GPT-4. Also, they might reveal tighter integration with Google Workspace beyond what’s already announced[40]. Maybe Agentforce can now trigger complex workflows in Google Docs/Sheets or schedule meetings via Google Calendar as part of an AI-driven process. Given last year’s news that Google Duet AI and Salesforce Copilot connect[40], this year might bring concrete demos: e.g., an Agentforce scenario where an AI agent drafts a proposal in Google Docs, shares it to Drive and updates Salesforce records, all seamlessly. Essentially, Salesforce wants to show it’s besties with Google in the enterprise AI stack.
• Salesforce × AWS: They’ve been working on data sharing with AWS services like Redshift and S3 (the “zero ETL” promise)[41]. At Dreamforce 2025, possibly a milestone: that pilot might be GA, enabling customers to use Amazon’s AI services (Bedrock, SageMaker) directly with Salesforce Data Cloud[37]. Maybe we’ll hear about Amazon Titan or Anthropic models being available through Salesforce as well, since Salesforce invested in Anthropic. And since AWS has its own Contact Center (Amazon Connect), maybe more on Service Cloud Voice integration with AWS – though that’s already a thing[42], they might announce expansions (e.g., more languages, more AI transcriptions by AWS in Salesforce calls).
• Salesforce × Databricks: They announced a big partnership in 2023 to unify Data Cloud with Databricks Lakehouse[43]. In 2025, expect an update like “Now thousands of customers are leveraging Salesforce + Databricks with zero data copying”. Possibly new connectors or the ability to run AI models in Databricks and deploy results in Salesforce in real-time. As AI and data converge, Salesforce will emphasize these integrations as a differentiator (e.g. “only we let you bring your own lake and your own model seamlessly into your CRM”[44]).
• Other Partners: Watch for a few new partnership announcements as wildcards. Maybe Adobe – for marketing/commerce AI (Adobe’s not a direct competitor in CRM, so maybe an alliance there, e.g., connecting Adobe’s content generation to Salesforce’s marketing data). IBM was already building industry agents on Salesforce[29], so that might get an onstage mention or demo (IBM’s CEO or IBM Consulting head might even cameo to talk about their partnership, given IBM’s push into AI services). Also, possibly something with Workday or Zoom – interestingly, Workday and Zoom were launch partners in Agentforce’s network[45]. Could Salesforce highlight how an Agentforce can span HR tasks in Workday or initiate Zoom meetings? If they show an agent scheduling a Zoom meeting with a client autonomously, the crowd would dig it (and it’s a subtle ahem to Microsoft, since Teams is a competitor).

One more thing (in Jobsian style): Salesforce might tease a big acquisition or investment. They’ve already put $500M+ into generative AI startups via Salesforce Ventures and an AI fund[46]. In 2025, they might announce topping that up (e.g. another $500M for trustworthy AI startups). Or perhaps reveal they acquired a small AI company recently – for example, a rumor suggests Salesforce acquired a process automation firm (like Apromore for process mining, as some industry chatter indicates). If true, Dreamforce would be the time to officially announce how that acquisition will fold into the platform (maybe to beef up Flow automation with process mining, giving Agentforce better analytical brains for workflows).

Ultimately, Salesforce’s major Dreamforce announcements will reinforce one narrative: Salesforce isn’t just a CRM company, it’s an AI platform and ecosystem now. From AI agents and copilots to a supercharged data platform and a village of partners, everything is geared to convince customers that Salesforce is their safest, smartest bet for the AI era of business. Just remember, behind every flashy announcement, there’s usually fine print. We’ll be parsing what’s real, what’s beta, and what’s pure PowerPoint. But on the surface, it’s going to be an AI avalanche – try not to get buried!

Expo Floor: Demos, Booths, and Cloud Carnivals

When you need a break from the keynotes’ Kool-Aid, the Dreamforce Expo Floor (a.k.a. the “Campground”) is the place to go. Picture a massive convention hall decked out as a Trailblazers’ theme park: giant cloud logos, fake trees and astroturf (for that Trailhead campground aesthetic), and hundreds of booths vying for your attention like carnival barkers. It’s part tech showcase, part bazaar, and 100% marketing theater.

On the Salesforce Campground side, you’ll find Salesforce’s own sprawling setup of demo stations. This is where Salesforce product managers demo new features in person, often with over-the-top visual aids. Expect to see a booth with a flashy dashboard of the Data Cloud in action – perhaps showing a real-time customer profile updating live as data streams in (they’ll highlight that sub-second magic we heard about[10]). Another hot spot will be the Einstein AI area: likely adorned with a neon Einstein avatar, where you can try Einstein Copilot yourself. You might see attendees lining up to speak to a screen, asking “Show me my top leads for this quarter” and watching Einstein spit out answers from CRM data. Is it gimmicky? Sure – but also strangely satisfying to watch a normally tedious report appear via a chat interface.

A must-see is the Agentforce Launch Zone, if it makes a comeback from 2024. Last year they literally had 1,000 customers building AI agents on-site with guidance[47]. If they do it again, swing by to witness the “DIY AI workshop” vibe: folks huddled over laptops with Slack open, as Salesforce gurus (the “agentforce advance team,” as they branded them[48]) help configure agents. It’s part hackathon, part sales pitch: those customers are guinea pigs proving how “easy” Agentforce is. For onlookers, it’s both inspiring and a little comical – you might overhear an admin say “So the AI can reset passwords for me now?” with equal parts excitement and anxiety.

Now, beyond Salesforce’s own spread, the partner ecosystem takes up a huge chunk of expo real estate. Every big consulting firm and ISV (independent software vendor) will be there flaunting their Salesforce-related wares. Think Accenture, Deloitte, IBM with mega-booths likely placed front and center (after all, they sponsor the event heavily). They’ll have their own demos – e.g., Deloitte might show off a “360° Customer for Banking” accelerator with big touchscreens and smiling reps eager to scan your badge. IBM could be demoing its new IBM Banking AI Agents that integrate with Salesforce (which we heard about[29]), maybe with a miniature bank branch set piece for flair. Tableau (a Salesforce company) will certainly have a data viz playground, probably turning boring data into gorgeous charts in real-time to lure in analytics folks.

For pure spectacle, keep an eye out for quirky tech demos. Dreamforce expo has featured things like VR stations (imagine a “walk through a virtual storefront built on Commerce Cloud” demo), robotics (perhaps a cute robot running on 5G, if any telco partners show up), and even cars – yes, a few years back they plopped a Formula 1 race car on the floor to showcase IoT data in Salesforce. This year, with AI mania, you might see booths letting you interact with chatbots or voice assistants. Perhaps a partner will bring a humanoid robot that integrates with Salesforce Service Cloud to, say, greet you or dance when a case is closed (if you spot a dancing robot in a Salesforce hoodie, you have our sympathies).

And then there’s the swag and circus element. Every booth tries to outdo the next in swag: T-shirts with witty cloud puns, Astro plushies (those cuddly Salesforce mascots are currency at Dreamforce), stickers, and the ever-popular socks emblazoned with SaaS logos. We wouldn’t be shocked if someone gives away an Alexa-like device that’s pre-loaded to connect to Salesforce, or mini-LLama mascots referencing Meta’s Llama2 model (cheeky!). The bigger players host raffles for drones or MacBooks to keep you hanging around. Pro tip: hit up the smaller SaaS vendor booths; they often have the weirdest (and best) swag – last year a tiny startup was handing out “Cloud Guru” fanny packs, and we’re still laughing/crying about it.

Of course, the expo floor is also ground zero for marketing theater. You’ll encounter many over-caffeinated startup founders pitching how their plugin or app is the missing piece of your Salesforce puzzle. Some will use buzzwords so thick you could cut them with a knife: “Our solution leverages AI-driven blockchain analytics to enhance CRM synergy!” (Real quote? Who knows, but it’s plausible.) Just smile, nod, and take the free pen. There’s also booth drama in subtler forms: rumor has it some rival companies strategically place their booths for maximum troll value. Don’t be surprised if, say, a competitor to Salesforce (though few dare enter Dreamforce turf) sponsors nearby billboards or has people handing out flyers outside. In years past, Oracle (Salesforce’s frenemy) has cheekily advertised in SF during Dreamforce – we’ll see if anyone pulls a stunt like a “Gorilla billboard” again.

Live demos on the expo stage are worth checking out too. Salesforce usually has mini-theaters where product managers do scheduled demos for a seated audience. These can be gems or duds. A hot one will be any demo titled “AI/Einstein/Agentforce something” – those will fill up. You’ll get to see real Salesforce screens (or pre-recorded “live” demos) showing how, e.g., an agent handles a customer complaint end-to-end. Expect some hiccups – part of the fun is seeing if the demo gods behave. There’s always a chance a voice recognition fails or an AI gives a funky answer on stage (snarky commentary: If the AI hallucinated in front of a live audience, would Salesforce spin it as a feature?). Regardless, it’s entertaining and gives more insight than the polished keynote videos.

Lastly, networking on the expo floor is its own sport. The savvy attendees know that while sessions are informative, the real deals happen in those random convos at booths or lounge areas. Salesforce will have themed zones like the “Trailblazer Forest” for community meetups or “Developer Grove” for coders to hang out. Wander around and you might bump into a Salesforce MVP or a product exec and get some candid off-the-record tidbits. And when your feet are dead and your brain is fried from pitches, head to one of the sponsored happy hour events on the expo floor (usually late afternoon). Free drinks start flowing, the mood loosens, and next thing you know you’re best friends with a product manager who just hinted at a feature coming next release. It’s part business, part party.

In summary, the Dreamforce expo floor is a feast for the senses: bright displays, constant chatter, maybe a DJ booth pumping tunes, and enough Cloud branding to last a lifetime. It’s where you can touch and feel the tech (and the plushies) beyond the slide decks. Whether you’re hunting for solutions, swag, or just a place to charge your phone, don’t skip the expo – it’s where the conference’s true pulse is. Just be ready for sensory overload and remember: the cloudier the claim, the more you should ask for a demo. If it works in the chaos of the expo, it might just be real!

Rumors and PR Wildcards: Surprises, Stunts and Speculation

No mega-conference is complete without its share of rumors, surprises, and PR stunts, and Dreamforce reliably delivers on that front. Half the fun is trying to guess what curveballs Salesforce might throw – or what gossip is floating through the hotel lobbies. Here are the wildcards we’re watching (with a healthy dose of skepticism and snark):

Metallica rocking out for charity at Dreamfest is a reminder that Dreamforce isn’t just keynotes – it’s also big on glitz and giving[49].

• Celebrity Cameos (Real and Holographic): Salesforce has a history of parading celebrities to amp up the wow factor. We fully expect a few surprise stage appearances beyond the announced speakers. Could Elon Musk via hologram pop in to jokingly promote xAI integration with Salesforce? (Okay, probably not – but imagine the headlines). More realistically, maybe Satya Nadella or Jensen Huang appears virtually to congratulate Salesforce on some partnership (Microsoft and Salesforce aren’t best friends, but hey, PR makes strange bedfellows). A more likely cameo: OpenAI’s Sam Altman live on stage – not a rumor, he’s essentially becoming the mascot for enterprise AI events and was at Dreamforce ‘23[50]. There’s also buzz about a Hollywood A-lister making a surprise visit. Dreamforce loves its motivational, human-centric moments, so perhaps someone like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shows up to talk about leadership (he’s done surprise business keynotes before), or a high-profile activist like Malala Yousafzai beams in to discuss education (Salesforce’s foundation often arranges this). And of course, the late-breaking rumor: an AI-generated cameo. We’ve heard whispers Salesforce might do a kitschy segment where a historical figure or past speaker “appears” via AI. Don’t be shocked if a virtual Einstein avatar greets the audience (Salesforce did name their AI after him…), which would either be endearing or cringey – or both.
• Dreamfest & Musical Surprises: By now it’s confirmed that Dreamfest, the annual concert/charity gala, will feature Metallica and Benson Boone rocking out in San Francisco[49]. That’s hardly a rumor – it’s on the official site. But Salesforce often has additional musical surprises. Previous Dreamfests had unannounced opening acts or guest performers (looking at you, will.i.am, who tends to pop up everywhere). There’s chatter that U2’s Bono might make a cameo (he’s friendly with Benioff and has appeared at Dreamforce in the past). Or maybe Taylor Swift will unexpectedly join Benson Boone on stage, instantly causing 5,000 marketers to lose their minds. (Alright, that one’s pure fantasy, but in a year where even enterprise tech tries to ride the T-Swift hype, who knows?) One thing is certain: Dreamfest will be leveraged as PR – Salesforce will tout how it’s raising millions for UCSF Children’s Hospitals while everyone has a great time[51]. The wildcard would be if a performer uses the stage for something newsworthy – imagine James Hetfield of Metallica shouting “Long live Trustworthy AI!” mid-song. Unlikely, but the tweets would be gold.
• Surprise Product Launch or Rebrand: Salesforce might be holding one big announcement under wraps to drop as a bombshell. Every so often they rebrand or launch something out of left field (like renaming Force.com to Lightning Platform back in the day, or the sudden reveal of Einstein AI itself). What could it be this year? One possibility: Salesforce renames CRM – just kidding, that’s too core. But perhaps a new product family name: We’ve heard a faint rumor of something called “Customer 360 Nexus”, which could be a repackaging of various services (or it could be someone’s imagination on Reddit). Another theory: an acquisition reveal. If Salesforce closed a deal recently (those Apromore process mining whispers, for example), Dreamforce keynotes are when Marc loves to welcome new “Ohana” members. So keep ears open for “I’m thrilled to announce we’ve acquired [insert AI startup name] to make your CRM even smarter.” Given the AI buying spree, it’s plausible.
• Big Partnership or Alliance: Aside from Google/AWS which we expect, could there be a shocker partnership? Maybe Salesforce cozies up to Apple again – recall a few years back they had an Apple partnership for mobile apps. With Apple pushing into AR and possibly cars, Salesforce might announce an integration like “Salesforce on Vision Pro AR” for futuristic field service or retail experiences. Sounds crazy, but hey, that’d generate buzz. Or maybe an alliance with Adobe: the marketing world would love a Salesforce-Adobe deep integration (e.g., connecting Adobe’s content AI to Salesforce’s Data Cloud). While Adobe and Salesforce are somewhat competitors, stranger things have happened when the enemy is “them not using our stuff.” Additionally, keep an eye on SAP or Oracle – okay, that’s more fever dream than rumor; Salesforce partnering with those rivals is like cats and dogs living together. But perhaps a truce in some area? If you hear Benioff compliment Oracle’s database on stage, you’ll know hell froze over.
• PR Stunts and Mascot Mayhem: Salesforce PR loves an attention-grabbing stunt. In past Dreamforces, they’ve done things like a flash mob on Howard Street or having Marc Benioff rappel down a building (I kid, but he has done zany things for charity). For 2025, maybe we’ll see a “Trailblazer Parade” – imagine a procession of people in Astro, Codey, and Einstein costumes marching through Moscone, marching band style, to kick off the event. It sounds absurd, but the amount of mascots Salesforce has, they could fill a parade easily (and it’d be peak photo op). Another potential stunt: Guinness World Record attempt. Salesforce might attempt something like “the world’s largest AI workshop” or “most people simultaneously building chatbots” to get into the record books, leveraging that Agentforce Launch Zone crowd. It’s exactly the kind of goofy-yet-on-message PR play they’d do.

Then there are the unexpected disruptions – not planned by Salesforce, but always a possibility. For instance, protesters: In some years, activists have shown up at Dreamforce to protest various issues (from homelessness to tech policies). Given the high profile of AI, maybe ethicists or labor groups could stage a little demonstration about the impact of AI on jobs, right outside Moscone. If so, watch how Salesforce handles it; they’ll likely spin it by emphasizing their “AI will create jobs” narrative (backed by that IDC stat of 18 million jobs by 2028[52]).

Finally, one wildcard to rule them all: Benioff’s “Ohana” Surprise. Marc often ends Dreamforce with something heartfelt or unexpected – like a big donation announcement, or a promise (2018’s: “1 million trees planted!”). Perhaps this year he’ll announce a new philanthropic initiative – e.g., funding 100 AI labs in public schools, or a major sustainability pledge to make all Salesforce data centers run on unicorn tears (sustainably harvested, of course). He might also bring his family or famous friends on stage for a final feel-good moment. A rumor suggests Matthew McConaughey (a known Salesforce “partner”/advisor) could show up for a closing cameo with Marc – if that happens, expect a jokey exchange and a “alright, alright, alright” to send everyone off.

In short, expect the unexpected at Dreamforce 2025. Whether it’s a surprise guest, an impromptu product reveal, or just the sheer wackiness of mascots dancing to Metallica, these wildcards keep everyone buzzing. We’ll keep our eyes peeled and our tweet fingers ready. Just remember: at Dreamforce, sometimes the sideshow steals as much attention as the main event – and that’s exactly how Salesforce likes it.

Breakout Sessions: What (and What Not) to Attend

Dreamforce isn’t just big keynotes and expo glam – it’s also a labyrinth of breakout sessions catering to every role and interest. With over 1,500 sessions on the roster (seriously), it’s impossible to catch everything, so you need to pick your battles. Here’s some snarky advice on navigating the schedule based on your persona:

If You’re a Salesperson or Sales Leader: You’re here for one thing: tips to sell more and sell faster (and maybe to party, but we’ll get to that). Must-Watch: Hit the Sales Cloud keynote and any session with “Einstein for Sales” or “Pipeline” in the title. There’s bound to be a session on how the new AI Sales Agent qualifies leads or how Einstein forecasting will magically boost your win rate. These are worth your time – you’ll get talking points to impress your VP and perhaps learn a trick or two (at worst, you get a slick deck to bring home). Also check out any customer panels featuring top sales performers (e.g., “How XYZ Corp grew 30% with AI-driven selling[20]”). They can be equal parts insightful and self-congratulatory, but you might pick up a nugget to justify that Dreamforce ticket. Can-Skip: Steer clear of deep-dive technical sessions or anything about “APIs” and “Integration” – as a sales leader, you neither have the patience nor the prerequisite nerdiness. Also, avoid the generic “Future of CRM” panels if they’re too high-level – you’ll hear the same buzzwords you already know. Instead of sitting through “CRM Trends 2025” fluff, use that hour to network at the expo or, let’s be honest, to sample the free lattes at the Salesforce Café. One more must-do: swing by sessions on Slack for Sales. Slack is becoming a secret weapon for many sales teams (real-time deal alerts, anyone?), and seeing a live demo of how teams use it with Einstein could spark ideas – or at least give you fodder to tell your team “we need to start doing that.” And by late afternoon, if a session isn’t holding your attention, we won’t judge you for sneaking out to the happy hour events; consider it prospecting – some of the best deals are struck over cocktails, not PowerPoints.

If You’re a Salesforce Admin: Ah, the beloved Admin – the one who actually makes the magic happen behind the scenes. Dreamforce is your candy store, but it can be overwhelming. Must-Watch: Prioritize sessions labeled “How To” or “Deep Dive” on the new features. For instance, “Mastering Einstein Copilot Setup for Admins” or “Building Your First Agent with Flow” – these will get into the nitty-gritty that you crave. Salesforce often runs Theater Sessions in the admin zone (sometimes called the “Admin Meadow” or similar) where product managers show configurations live. Go to those! You’ll learn how to toggle that new trust setting or see a demo of the improved Flow Builder hooking into Data Cloud real-time triggers[53]. Definitely catch any “Automation Best Practices” talk – with all these new AI features, they usually drop gems about limits, gotchas, and clever workarounds. Also, check out the Certifications & Career corner: Dreamforce often has sessions on “Advanced Admin Tricks” or “Career Growth for Admins” featuring Salesforce MVPs. These are great for both learning and inspiration (plus, they often hand out special admin swag at those). Can-Skip: You can probably skip broad visionary keynotes (sorry Marc) because you’ll get more value fiddling with the tech hands-on. Also avoid sessions that are basically customer case studies without technical depth (e.g., “How BigCo transformed service” where they won’t show the actual config – it’ll just be a middle manager boasting). Instead, use that time to hit the Trailblazer Forest where you can actually try the features. Pro tip: There’s usually an Admin Zone with mini-workshops. Jump into a hands-on training if you can, like an official Trailhead Quick Start for a new feature. You’ll come out with real experience (and perhaps a voucher or discount for a certification exam). Lastly, as an admin, you must experience the “True to the Core” session if they hold it – it’s the town hall where admins/developers ask Salesforce execs tough questions about the roadmap and missing features. It’s half therapy session, half feature reveal. Go air your grievances or just watch others do it – it’s cathartic and often newsworthy.

If You’re a Developer: (Yes, Salesforce devs, we see you clutching your Visual Studio Code stickers in a sea of business casual). You’re here for the tech under the hood and maybe the free cert swag. Must-Watch: The Developer Keynote is your jam – it’s where Salesforce will likely unveil things like the new Apex SDKs, LWC (Lightning Web Components) updates, or that shiny Agentforce Vibes coding tool in action[32]. You’ll want to see the live code demos and gauge what’s hype vs. reality. Also attend any session titled “Architect Guide to ___” or “Deep Dive: Salesforce Platform” – these often have Salesforce R&D folks showing reference architectures and performance tips that can save your bacon later. Definitely hit the Dev Zone workshops. Dreamforce typically sets up a Dev Hub with mini-hack challenges, and with AI in the mix, there might be an AI coding challenge (maybe a little contest using Vibe Codey to build an app fastest). There’s also usually a Hackathon Showdown where finalists present apps they built[54] – inspiring and a good place to meet fellow hardcore devs. Can-Skip: You can skip most product strategy sessions (looking at you, “The Future of Work” panel – a developer’s eyes will glaze over in that one). Also, leave the “intro to Salesforce” sessions to the newbies. You already know how to spin up an org or what a Flow is – instead, go deep into sessions on performance, security, and integration. Anything about “APIs and event-driven architectures” or “Optimizing Data Cloud queries” is likely worth it for you. And if you’re into specifics, seek out the Stack Exchange or Community Meetups for devs – there’s often a community-led session where devs share real-world war stories about things like hitting governor limits or using the CLI. That candor is gold. One more thing: spend time at the “Code Consultation” booths. Salesforce usually has experts available to review your code or design for free (yes, free architecture advice – take advantage!). You might get that nagging question answered or discover a better way to implement something. And of course, collect those dev swag items – the Salesforce Developer Relations team typically gives out the coolest t-shirts, and who doesn’t want another shirt that says “<Codey/>” or similar?

If You’re an Analyst or Executive (Strategy-Seeker): Maybe you’re a business analyst, an industry analyst, or a CXO type absorbing trends – in any case, you’re sniffing out the signal in the noise. Must-Watch: Go to the “Trends and Research” sessions. Salesforce often brings out IDC, Gartner, or their own Office of Innovation folks to present data on where markets are going (e.g., “State of CRM 2025” or “AI Impact by the Numbers”). These sessions will arm you with glossy stats to cite in your next board meeting (and possibly reveal what Salesforce’s narrative will be for the next year). Also, attend the customer showcase panels in sectors you care about – hearing how peers in finance, retail, etc. implement tech can validate what’s real versus vapor. Importantly, don’t miss the Innovation or Visionary talks: Dreamforce sometimes has futurists or tech theorists speak (could be a CTO of Salesforce or a famous author). For example, if there’s a fireside chat with a notable tech CEO or a panel on “Ethical AI in Enterprise,” those will be rich in insight (and quotable lines). Can-Skip: You can safely skip the highly technical breakouts – you likely don’t need to know how to configure an Omni-Channel routing rule. Also, skip the overly salesy sessions (if the title sounds like a vendor pitch, it probably is one). Instead, use those slots to roam and network. As an analyst type, the hallway conversations are gold – you’ll pick up candid sentiments like “We tried that AI thing, it flopped” or “Everyone’s asking about X integration.” Attend any “Coffee with Product Managers” or “Ask Me Anything” sessions if available. Grilling a Salesforce PM on roadmap in a small group is incredibly enlightening. And while at it, check out the Partner Expo for the big consultancies – they often demo what they think the future is, which is telling of industry direction (even if aspirational). You might also want to join the Investor/Financial Analyst track if Salesforce hosts one (some years they do a special briefing for investors). If not, following the money is still wise: peek into sessions on ROI, adoption metrics, etc., to see how value is being measured. Lastly, for industry analysts, the unofficial move is to hang at the hotel bar where Salesforce execs and big customers mingle after hours – you’ll glean unfiltered perspectives after drink #2 that you’d never hear on stage. Just remember to jot down notes after the hangover subsides.

General Tips for All Attendees: Plan your day, but allow for serendipity. Some of the best insights will come from wandering into a random session or striking up a chat with the person next to you in line. Conversely, accept that some hyped sessions will be duds – there’s always one where the speakers mostly pitch their product or half the panelists don’t show. Don’t be afraid to bail on a session if it’s not delivering value; nobody will judge you for slipping out to grab a coffee or catch fresh air. The rule of thumb: if you haven’t learned or laughed in the first 10 minutes, find something else.

Also, leverage the Salesforce Events app to bookmark interesting talks, but double-check locations – the Moscone center’s spread can be a trek, and you don’t want to sprint 4 blocks only to find the session full. Keep an ear to the ground (or rather, an eye on Twitter/X and Mastodon). Often you’ll see people post “Standing room only at the Marketing Cloud roadmap – huge announcement dropped!” or “Skip Session XYZ, it’s a rehash of the keynote.” The backchannel intel from fellow attendees helps you pivot your schedule on the fly.

And remember, Dreamforce is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s fine to skip a mid-afternoon session and recharge (physically or mentally). San Francisco’s coffee shops are nearby if you need a quiet break – or hit the “Mindfulness Meadow” Salesforce sets up in Yerba Buena Gardens[55] for a zen moment; yes, that’s a thing, complete with meditation pillows and maybe a llama (the animal, not the model). Taking care of yourself ensures you’ll be sharp for the sessions that really matter – and for the evening networking that follows.

Why Dreamforce Still Matters (Mascots and All)

After all the hype, hullabaloo, and yes, even our snark, one might ask: Does Dreamforce 2025 actually matter? The short answer is yes – more than the cynics might admit. Sure, it’s easy to poke fun at the Astro mascots roaming the streets, the endless repetition of “AI + Data + CRM” mantras, and the sometimes over-the-top marketing spin. But beneath that glittery cloud veneer, Dreamforce remains a barometer for the industry and a catalyst for its community.

For one, Dreamforce is a microcosm of tech trends in enterprise software. When Salesforce stakes its claim on something – be it AI agents, data platforms, or ethical tech – it sends ripples across the market. Competitors scramble to adjust messaging, partners build complementary solutions, customers refine their roadmaps. In 2023, Dreamforce proclaimed itself the largest AI event[8], and indeed it signaled the gold rush of AI in enterprise apps. In 2025, the focus on autonomous agents and an “Agentic Enterprise” suggests a pivot from just assisting humans to partially replacing certain tasks with AI – that’s a huge shift in CRM trends. Whether you buy the vision or not, ignoring it isn’t wise. Often the reality falls short of the Dreamforce hype, but it shows where Salesforce (and by extension, a chunk of the enterprise world) is headed.

Dreamforce also matters to the ecosystem of builders and users. The sheer number of sessions, training and networking opportunities can elevate the skills and knowledge of an entire workforce. Thousands of admins and developers will leave with new tricks that make their companies’ Salesforce implementations better. And better implementations can mean real business value – efficiency, revenue, happier customers. Salesforce likes to tout lofty figures (for example, an IDC study claiming $2 trillion in new revenue and 18 million jobs by 2028 due to the “Salesforce economy”[52]). Those numbers may be infused with optimism, but there’s truth that a vibrant ecosystem does create jobs and innovation. When a small consultancy at Dreamforce learns about a new feature and builds a service around it, that’s the abstract hype translating into concrete impact.

Moreover, Dreamforce remains the ultimate networking petri dish in the Salesforce world. Deals get done here – maybe not the billion-dollar acquisitions (those press releases drop at 8AM without warning), but partnerships and customer signings aplenty. A chance encounter at a Dreamforce mixer between a CIO and a Salesforce product manager might influence the next big feature, or at least get a critical bug fixed (we can dream!). A startup founder might meet a potential investor who’s impressed they’re part of the Salesforce ecosystem. An admin might discover a user group that becomes a support system for their career. In short, the connections forged at Dreamforce often yield value long after the confetti is swept up. It’s like a giant annual reunion for the “Salesforce Ohana” – a family that includes everyone from Fortune 100 CEOs to freelance consultants. Cheesy as that sounds, those community bonds are one of Salesforce’s secret weapons (and why those mascots and shared rituals exist – to cultivate that tribe vibe).

From a market perspective, Dreamforce is a stage where Salesforce asserts leadership and where the industry collectively reads the tea leaves. If something is conspicuously absent from the agenda, it often signals it wasn’t successful or is being deprioritized (remember the buzz around Blockchain at DF ‘19? Neither do we – it quietly fizzled). Conversely, the new buzzwords you hear nonstop (this year: “Agentic AI,” “trusted autonomy,” maybe “AI + Slack workflow”) indicate where enterprise dollars and R&D will flow. Even competitors pay attention; you can bet Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP have folks watching the streams or lurking in the audience. As much as they might roll eyes at the theatrics, they know a lot of customers are listening to Salesforce’s story this week and perhaps re-evaluating their own strategies because of it.

And let’s face it – Dreamforce is also part of tech culture now, in its own peculiar way. It turns downtown San Francisco into a temporary tech theme park. Love it or hate it, there’s something noteworthy about a conference that can close city streets, feature rock legends like Metallica on stage, and have attendees earnestly walking around in ranger hats and cloud shirts as if it’s the most normal thing. It’s the Super Bowl of SaaS, the Carnival of Cloud, and it generates excitement that permeates beyond the attendee list. Media will cover the big announcements (with varying degrees of skepticism), and social timelines will light up with #DF2025 highlights. In a tech world that can sometimes feel fragmented and virtual, Dreamforce is a tangible, communal experience – a bit of spectacle that reminds us that technology, at its best, is a human team sport.

So yes, amid the hype, the cringe-y slogans (*“In Trust We AI” emblazoned on banners[56], anyone?), and the at-times relentless optimism, Dreamforce still matters. It’s where we get a snapshot of progress – both Salesforce’s and that of its users. It’s where aspirational ideas meet real-world case studies, often revealing the gap between promise and practice (and how that gap is closing… or not). And importantly, it’s a celebration – of customers, of tech innovation, and of a community that has built careers and companies around this ecosystem.

As we wrap up this snarky preview, we tip our hat (a fluffy Astro hat, of course) to Dreamforce. May it continue to be a venue for both grand visions and grounded conversations. If you’re attending, soak it in – the knowledge, the connections, the weirdness. If you’re following from afar, keep an eye on those keynote live streams and Twitter hot takes for the real story between the lines. We’ll be doing the same, filter on, sarcasm at the ready, but also genuinely curious to see how the next chapter of Salesforce’s story unfolds. Because in the end, behind the cloud puns and mascot hugs, there’s a real pulse of an industry figuring out its future. And that is why Dreamforce, love it or lampoon it, still commands attention in 2025.

So, grab your Trailblazer hoodie, polish your favorite cloud pin, and get ready – Dreamforce 2025 is here, and it’s going to be one wild, insightful ride. Alright, alright, alright (as McConaughey might say)… let the cloud games begin!

Sources: Dreamforce official site and Salesforce news[49][1]; Salesforce Ben and TechCrunch for announcement details[12][32]; SF Standard for 2023 speaker highlights[6][50]; SalesforceBen recap of DF’24 for Agentforce and Data Cloud facts[17][25]; CRN and Salesforce news for AI platform claims[3][15]. (And a dash of conference-going experience, sprinkled with snark, as always.)

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