The State of AI

The State of AI: How We Got Here (and What’s Next)

Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from the realm of science fiction into a transformative force reshaping industries and lives around the world. But how did AI develop into the technology we know today, and where is it headed next? At Dreamforce, two of Salesforce’s leading minds in AI—Chief Scientist Silvio Savarese and Chief Futurist Peter Schwartz—offered insights into AI’s past, present, and future.

How We Got Here: The Evolution of AI

AI’s roots trace back decades, and its journey has been defined by cycles of innovation and setbacks. Peter Schwartz, Salesforce’s Chief Futurist, shared a firsthand perspective on these developments. Having been involved in AI since the 1970s, Schwartz witnessed the first “AI winter,” a period of reduced funding and interest due to the immense challenges of understanding and replicating the human brain.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, AI shifted from attempting to mimic human cognition to adopting data-driven models. This new direction opened up possibilities beyond the constraints of brain-inspired approaches. By the 2010s, neural networks re-emerged, revolutionizing AI by enabling systems to process raw data without extensive pre-processing.

Savarese, who began his AI research during one of these challenging periods, emphasized the breakthroughs in neural networks and their successor, transformers. These advancements culminated in large language models (LLMs), which can now process massive datasets, generate natural language, and perform tasks ranging from creating content to developing action plans.

Today, AI has progressed to a new frontier: large action models. These systems go beyond generating text, enabling AI to take actions, adapt through feedback, and refine performance autonomously.

Where We Are Now: The Present State of AI

The pace of AI innovation is staggering. Just a year ago, discussions centered on copilots—AI systems designed to assist humans. Now, the conversation has shifted to autonomous AI agents capable of performing complex tasks with minimal human oversight.

Peter Schwartz highlighted the current uncertainties surrounding AI, particularly in regulated industries like banking and healthcare. Leaders are grappling with questions about deployment speed, regulatory hurdles, and the broader societal implications of AI. While many startups in the AI space will fail, some will emerge as the giants of the next generation.

Salesforce’s own advancements, such as the Atlas Reasoning Engine, underscore the rapid progress. These technologies are shaping products like Agentforce, an AI-powered suite designed to revolutionize customer interactions and operational efficiency.

What’s Next: The Future of AI

According to Savarese, the future lies in autonomous AI systems, which include two categories:

AI Assistants: These systems work alongside humans, performing tasks like drafting emails, booking appointments, and making reservations. They rely on personalization, understanding user preferences, and maintaining a “human in the loop” to guide their actions.
AI Agents: Operating with greater autonomy, these systems can handle end-to-end tasks such as customer support, sales outreach, and strategic decision-making. They are designed to learn from feedback and continuously improve their performance, ushering in a new era of intelligent automation.

The Road Ahead

As AI continues to evolve, it’s clear that its potential is boundless. However, the path forward will require careful navigation of ethical, regulatory, and practical challenges. The key to success lies in innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to creating systems that enhance human capabilities.

For Salesforce, the journey has only just begun. With groundbreaking technologies and visionary leadership, the company is not just predicting the future of AI—it’s creating it. The State of AI.