The landscape of professional marketing is undergoing a seismic shift, one where the paradigm is moving from manual execution to orchestration. Salesforce’s upcoming Connections 2026 conference highlights this transformation, centering its agenda on the rapid maturation of "Agentic AI."

For those unfamiliar with the term, agentic AI refers to systems capable of completing complex, multi-step workflows autonomously, rather than simply generating static text or images in response to a prompt. These agents are designed to "act"—making decisions and executing tasks like building campaign segments or dynamically adjusting web interfaces based on real-time consumer data.

The conference, set for June 3–4 in Chicago, is not merely a showcase for theory but a practical workshop environment. With over 280 sessions planned, the event emphasizes hands-on application, specifically through "Agentforce," the company's framework for deploying these autonomous systems. Students should note that this represents a fundamental change in the digital marketing toolkit; we are entering an era where professionals must learn to "manage" AI agents rather than just perform the labor themselves.

One of the standout features is "Agentforce City," an immersive space dedicated to demonstrating how these autonomous workflows operate across various industries. By moving these concepts out of the abstract realm of research and into tangible, real-world customer stories, the company is signaling that the barrier to entry for building and deploying AI agents is lower than ever.

The curriculum includes workshops on improving email deliverability through predictive content and transforming static storefronts into personalized, adaptive digital experiences. These sessions address the technical challenges of scale, ensuring that the automation leads to engagement rather than just noise.

While the technology is the primary driver, the inclusion of speakers like Martha Stewart and free-solo climber Alex Honnold offers a broader perspective on strategy and calculated risk. This blend of technical mastery and high-level execution strategy underscores the reality of the modern workplace: the most successful professionals will be those who can harness these autonomous capabilities to drive measurable growth while maintaining the human touch.

The landscape of professional marketing is undergoing a seismic shift, one where the paradigm is moving from manual execution to orchestration. Salesforce’s upcoming Connections 2026 conference highlights this transformation, centering its agenda on the rapid maturation of "Agentic AI."

For those unfamiliar with the term, agentic AI refers to systems capable of completing complex, multi-step workflows autonomously, rather than simply generating static text or images in response to a prompt. These agents are designed to "act"—making decisions and executing tasks like building campaign segments or dynamically adjusting web interfaces based on real-time consumer data.

The conference, set for June 3–4 in Chicago, is not merely a showcase for theory but a practical workshop environment. With over 280 sessions planned, the event emphasizes hands-on application, specifically through "Agentforce," the company's framework for deploying these autonomous systems. Students should note that this represents a fundamental change in the digital marketing toolkit; we are entering an era where professionals must learn to "manage" AI agents rather than just perform the labor themselves.

One of the standout features is "Agentforce City," an immersive space dedicated to demonstrating how these autonomous workflows operate across various industries. By moving these concepts out of the abstract realm of research and into tangible, real-world customer stories, the company is signaling that the barrier to entry for building and deploying AI agents is lower than ever.

The curriculum includes workshops on improving email deliverability through predictive content and transforming static storefronts into personalized, adaptive digital experiences. These sessions address the technical challenges of scale, ensuring that the automation leads to engagement rather than just noise.

While the technology is the primary driver, the inclusion of speakers like Martha Stewart and free-solo climber Alex Honnold offers a broader perspective on strategy and calculated risk. This blend of technical mastery and high-level execution strategy underscores the reality of the modern workplace: the most successful professionals will be those who can harness these autonomous capabilities to drive measurable growth while maintaining the human touch.