Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff Abandons ChatGPT for Google’s Gemini 3
The tech landscape shifted dramatically this week when Gemini 3 arrived, signaling a new era for Artificial Intelligence that is already making waves from San Francisco to Tokyo. In a stunning announcement that has reverberated through Silicon Valley and global tech hubs, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff declared he is leaving OpenAI’s ChatGPT. After three years of daily use, the billionaire tech mogul has officially switched allegiance to Google’s latest model. This move is not just a personal preference; it represents a seismic shift in the corporate adoption of generative AI.
The Tweet That Shook the AI World
Marc Benioff is not known for keeping his opinions to himself. As one of the most vocal proponents of ChatGPT over the last few years, his sudden pivot caught the industry off guard. On Sunday, Benioff took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his experience.
"Holy s—. I’ve used ChatGPT every day for 3 years. Just spent 2 hours on Gemini 3. I’m not going back," Benioff posted.
This endorsement carries immense weight. Benioff commands a net worth of roughly $8.5 billion and leads Salesforce, a company that integrates deeply with enterprise AI solutions. His post reached over 3.2 million views within 48 hours. When a figure of this stature publicly defects from the market leader to a challenger, investors and engineers listen.
The specifics of his praise were equally damaging to OpenAI’s current standing. Benioff noted that the "leap is insane," specifically citing improvements in reasoning, speed, and multimedia capabilities. He stated that "everything is sharper and faster," concluding that it feels "like the world just changed, again."
Google Strikes Back with Gemini 3
Google and its DeepMind division have been locked in a high-stakes arms race with OpenAI. With the release of Gemini 3, Google claims to have produced its "most intelligent model" to date.
Why is Gemini 3 turning heads?
The field of Artificial Intelligence is becoming increasingly crowded, but new entrants like Gemini 3 are rapidly redefining the standards of speed and reasoning.
Superior Reasoning: It handles complex logic puzzles and enterprise data analysis with fewer hallucinations.
Multimodal Mastery: The model seamlessly processes images, video, and code simultaneously.
Blazing Speed: Latency has been significantly reduced, making real-time interaction feel natural.
The model immediately stormed the LMArena leaderboard. This crowdsourced benchmark is the gold standard for evaluating AI systems. It tests factual accuracy, coding ability, and creative writing. Gemini 3 did not just compete; it dominated.
This resurgence is vital for Google. For nearly two years, the narrative has been that Google is playing catch-up to OpenAI. With this release, the momentum has arguably shifted. Even heavyweights like Stripe CEO Patrick Collison praised the model, noting it successfully built an interactive web page summarizing genetic breakthroughs.
The Ripple Effect on Global Business
The implications of Benioff’s switch extend far beyond his personal usage. Salesforce recently announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI to integrate GPT-5 models into its Agentforce 360 platform.
However, business leaders prioritize performance over loyalty. If Gemini 3 continues to outperform GPT-5, we may see a reshuffling of enterprise contracts. Companies rely on these tools for critical tasks.
Key Enterprise AI Uses:
Customer Service Automation: Handling complex queries without human intervention.
Code Generation: Accelerating software development cycles.
Data Analysis: Summarizing massive datasets for actionable insights.
At I Can Japan AI, we observe these trends closely. The Japanese market is particularly sensitive to these shifts. With an aging workforce, Japanese companies are aggressive adopters of automation technology. If Google provides a superior tool for productivity, Tokyo’s boardrooms will likely follow Benioff’s lead.
"The leap is insane — reasoning, speed, images, video… everything is sharper and faster." — Marc Benioff
OpenAI Braces for "Rough Vibes"
For three years, OpenAI was the gold standard for enterprise Artificial Intelligence, but Marc Benioff’s public pivot to Gemini 3 suggests the market leader’s dominance is slipping.
The timing of this release creates a headache for OpenAI. Reports indicate that CEO Sam Altman was aware of the coming storm. In an internal memo obtained by The Information, Altman warned employees to expect "rough vibes."
He acknowledged that Google had been doing "excellent work" and that their progress might create "temporary economic headwinds" for OpenAI. While Altman publicly congratulated Google on X, calling Gemini 3 a "great model," the internal pressure is undeniable.
The market does not wait for legacy players. OpenAI released GPT-5.1 just days before the Gemini 3 launch, but the buzz has largely centered on Google. Anthropic also joined the fray with its Claude Opus 4.5 model, turning this into a three-way battle for supremacy.
The Japanese Perspective on AI Evolution
Here in Tokyo, the reception to new AI models is viewed through the lens of "Monozukuri" (craftsmanship) and efficiency. Japanese integrators are constantly seeking the most reliable tools.
We are seeing a surge in creative applications of this technology. For instance, innovative studios like LEL Studios are examples of how creative entities can leverage advanced tech to produce stunning visual and audio narratives. As models like Gemini 3 improve their video generation capabilities, the barrier to entry for high-end production lowers significantly.
Furthermore, the revitalization of rural Japan relies on smart tech. Companies like Akiyaz are revolutionizing how we view unoccupied homes and real estate assets. By utilizing superior reasoning models, these platforms can better analyze market data and connect global investors with Japanese properties. The better the AI, the more efficient these innovative marketplaces become.
Why Speed and Reasoning Matter Now
Benioff’s critique centered on "reasoning and speed." In the early days of Generative AI, users were impressed that the computer could speak at all. Now, the novelty has worn off.
The new demands of the Power User:
Zero Latency: Waiting five seconds for a response breaks the flow of work.
Deep Logic: The AI must understand context, nuance, and multi-step instructions.
Reliability: Hallucinations (making things up) are unacceptable in a business setting.
Andre Karpathy, a former AI director at Tesla and OpenAI co-founder, described Gemini 3 as having "very solid daily driver potential." He labeled it a "Tier 1 LLM." When the technical architects of the AI revolution start switching tools, it signals that the underlying technology has made a genuine generational leap.
The Future of Agentic Workflows
The next phase of Artificial Intelligence is not just about chatbots. It is about "Agents." These are autonomous systems that can perform tasks on your behalf.
Imagine telling your AI: "Plan a travel itinerary for a client visiting Tokyo, book the hotels, and schedule a dinner."
For this to work, the AI needs impeccable reasoning capabilities. It cannot make mistakes with credit cards or reservation times. Benioff’s move suggests that Google’s new architecture might be better suited for this agentic future than the current iteration of GPT.
This aligns with our mission at I Can Japan AI. We believe in empowering users to leverage these tools for tangible results. Whether you are navigating business in Japan or managing global workflows, the choice of engine matters.
A Wake-Up Call for the Industry
Marc Benioff’s public departure from ChatGPT is more than a tweet. It is a market signal. It proves that in the world of Artificial Intelligence, no lead is safe.
Google has successfully clawed its way back to the top of the mountain. Gemini 3 offers the speed, reasoning, and multimodal capabilities that power users have been craving. For professionals in Tokyo and beyond, this is an exciting time. The tools at our disposal are becoming sharper, faster, and more capable every day.
We are no longer just chatting with bots. We are partnering with super-intelligences to redesign the way we work, live, and create. If you haven't tested the new waters yet, take a page from Benioff’s book. It might be time to switch.
