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The Rise of AI Agents

The Rise of AI Agents

The Rise of AI Agents: Salesforce’s Vision for a New Era of Business In just three months, more than 1,000 companies have deployed Salesforce AI agents, unlocking capabilities “they’ve never seen before” and setting the stage for game-changing business outcomes, according to CEO Marc Benioff. That’s a bold prediction—even for a visionary like Benioff, whose track record speaks for itself. But throughout our recent 25-minute conversation for the Cloud Wars CEO Outlook 2025 series, Benioff remained unwavering in his optimism about the AI-powered future. Agentic AI: The Force Driving Business Transformation According to Benioff, AI agents represent the next wave of business transformation, redefining how companies operate, innovate, and compete. “I’ve never been more excited about technology—this is an incredible moment in time,” Benioff said. He described AI agents as the bridge to a future where businesses engage with customers in ways previously thought possible only in science fiction. These AI-driven systems will help organizations operate at lower costs while improving customer relationships and key performance metrics. But Salesforce isn’t just selling this vision to customers—it’s living it. Benioff shared firsthand insights into how the company is leveraging AI to optimize its own operations, revealing lessons that could reshape how enterprises think about productivity and workforce planning. Digital Labor: A Multi-Trillion-Dollar Opportunity One of the most striking takeaways from our conversation was Salesforce’s approach to what Benioff calls “digital labor.” “For 25 years, Salesforce has helped businesses manage data. Now, we’re creating digital workers—AI agents that unlock entirely new ways to operate,” he said. This shift is already making an impact. Salesforce’s Agentforce AI now handles the bulk of the company’s customer support, transforming how its 9,000 service agents manage 36,000 weekly support inquiries: As a result, Salesforce is reallocating 2,000 support professionals to other roles—just one example of how AI is reshaping workforce dynamics. A Radical Rethink: No New Developers in 2025 Perhaps the most surprising revelation? Salesforce is pausing hiring for software engineers in 2025. Benioff explained that despite doubling its engineering team over the past five years, AI has driven a 30% increase in productivity. Rather than hiring more developers, Salesforce is leaning into AI-powered automation to accelerate software development. This shift raises fundamental questions about the future of work: Salesforce vs. Microsoft: Competing Visions for AI Agents AI agents are reshaping enterprise technology, but vendors have differing approaches. Benioff made it clear that Salesforce is taking a unique path—one he believes will ultimately lead the industry. Unlike Microsoft, which is deeply integrating AI within its core applications, Salesforce sees agents as an evolution of its CRM foundation, leveraging the vast 230-petabyte data ecosystem it manages for customers. “The businesses that are closest to their data will win,” Benioff said. “And we’re going to deliver capabilities that our customers have never seen before—ones that will thrill them out of their minds.” The Future: A Billion AI Agents As enterprises race to adopt AI, Benioff predicts an explosion in AI agent deployment. “In the next 12 months, we’ll see thousands of companies deploying up to a billion AI agents. And Salesforce will be the absolute leader in agentic technology for the enterprise,” he said. Benioff’s vision is clear: AI agents aren’t just an enhancement—they are the next frontier of business. And companies that embrace them will lead the way into a new era of efficiency, innovation, and growth. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Aligning Strategy and Goals

Aligning Strategy and Goals

Aligning Strategy and Goals: Bridging the Gap Between Data and Business Success Aligning data strategy with business goals is critical—but easier said than done. 41% of business leaders report that their data strategy is only partially or not at all aligned with their objectives. Here’s how to close the gap and make data a true driver of business success. 1. Define Your Business Goals Collaboration between business and IT stakeholders is essential. Start by identifying and prioritizing objectives that drive success, such as revenue growth, customer satisfaction, cost reduction, and market expansion. Business Goal How Data Supports It Revenue Growth Use analytics to identify high-value customers and optimize marketing strategies for higher conversions. Customer Satisfaction Leverage trusted customer data to personalize experiences and improve engagement. Cost Reduction Analyze operational data to streamline processes and improve efficiency. Market Expansion Use market and customer insights to identify new growth opportunities. 2. Determine Key Metrics Once goals are clear, define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress. Business Goal Key Metric Revenue Growth Conversion Rate: Measures the percentage of leads converted into paying customers. Customer Satisfaction Retention Rate: Tracks the percentage of returning customers over time. Cost Reduction Operational Efficiency Ratio: Compares operational costs to revenue. Market Expansion Customer Acquisition Rate: Measures the rate of new customer growth. 3. Assess Resources and Budget Evaluate whether you have the systems, tools, and budget needed to support your goals. If customer personalization is a priority, you may need solutions like Data Cloud to unify and leverage customer insights. A strong CRM or data analytics platform may also be required to track specific KPIs. 4. Build a Data-Driven Culture Data maturity is not just about tools—it’s about people. Empower teams with the skills, training, and mindset to leverage data effectively. Change management initiatives and ongoing education will help integrate data into daily decision-making. See how F5 is building a data-driven culture with Tableau:“Data has been transforming our corporate culture right before our eyes. Every day, I wake up learning something new about data.”— Amie Bright, Former RVP of Enterprise Data Strategy and Insights, F5 5. Align Teams for Success Use this handy checklist to ensure alignment across your organization: ✅ Collaborate with business and IT teams to define and prioritize objectives.✅ Develop key data KPIs in partnership with internal stakeholders.✅ Survey team leaders to assess the tools, systems, and budgets needed.✅ Invest in training and change management to build a data-driven culture.✅ Join a data leadership community to gain insights and best practices. Want to accelerate your data strategy? Reach out to Tectonic to get started today. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Cloud-Based Housing Repairs with Salesforce

Bernicia Leads the Way in Cloud-Based Housing Repairs with Salesforce Bernicia has become the first housing association in the UK to deliver end-to-end repairs services through Salesforce’s cloud-based, nonprofit solution—setting a new industry benchmark for streamlined, automated housing repairs. Transforming Repairs with Salesforce Field Services All electrical repairs at tenants’ homes are now managed through Salesforce Field Services, enhancing the customer experience with seamless, automated processes. By this summer, all responsive repairs will transition into the system, delivering key benefits such as: A Customer-Centric Digital Transformation In 2023, Bernicia reinforced its commitment to tenants by launching a multi-year cultural development program, supported by a £4 million investment in world-class technology. By listening to customer feedback and leveraging data-driven insights, Bernicia has aligned its new digital repairs service with tenant expectations and evolving habits. Andrea Malcolm, Deputy Chief Executive at Bernicia and project sponsor, stated: “The introduction of Field Services marks a major milestone in our journey to customer service excellence. The dedication and expertise of our team have been outstanding, creating an incredible momentum across the business. We’re excited to see the real difference this will make for both customers and colleagues.” Jude Comber, Account Executive at Salesforce Nonprofits, praised the project team, saying: “The level of skill and attention to detail in this project is outstanding. Bernicia’s customer-first approach is a model for how to successfully implement a digital transformation.” Strategic Collaboration with Alscient Achieving this milestone was made possible through Bernicia’s partnership with Alscient, a multi-cloud specialist. Their expertise in Salesforce integration and digital transformation played a key role in designing and implementing the Field Services solution. Salesforce: A Game-Changer for Housing Associations Salesforce offers housing associations a single, integrated platform to streamline operations, enhance tenant relationships, and eliminate inefficiencies caused by data silos. By embracing cloud-based, automated solutions, housing providers can transform service delivery and drive long-term tenant satisfaction. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Google and Salesforce Expand Partnership

Google and Salesforce Expand Partnership

Google and Salesforce Expand Partnership to Enhance AI Agent Capabilities Google and Salesforce are deepening their collaboration to provide customers with greater flexibility in AI agent deployment. This expanded partnership will integrate Google Gemini within Salesforce’s Agentforce platform, enabling AI agents to process images, audio, and video with advanced multimodal capabilities. Enhanced AI Functionality with Gemini Through this integration, AI agents will gain access to Gemini’s powerful models, allowing them to handle complex tasks with extended context windows and leverage real-time insights from Google Search via Vertex AI. This collaboration aims to empower businesses with AI solutions that are not limited to a single model provider, offering crucial flexibility in AI customization. Srini Tallapragada, Salesforce’s President and Chief Engineering and Customer Success Officer, emphasized that the integration offers customers the ability to choose the applications and models that best suit their needs. “Salesforce offers a complete enterprise-grade agentic AI platform that makes it easy to deploy new capabilities quickly and realize business value fast. Google Cloud is a pioneer in enterprise agentic AI, offering some of the most powerful models, agents, and AI development tools on the planet. Together, we are creating the best place for businesses to scale with digital labor.” Key Benefits of the Integration The partnership is set to deliver significant advantages for businesses, as outlined in the official announcement: Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, highlighted the benefits of this collaboration: “Our mutual customers have asked for seamless integration across Salesforce and Google Cloud. This expanded partnership enables them to accelerate AI transformations with state-of-the-art AI models, agentic AI, and advanced data analytics.” Strengthening Customer Service Integrations The partnership will also enhance the connection between Salesforce Service Cloud and Google Cloud’s Customer Engagement Suite, providing AI-driven improvements to customer support. Key upcoming features include: Expanding AI-Powered Decision-Making Beyond Gemini, Agentforce will integrate Google Search through Vertex AI, leveraging secure connections between Salesforce Data Cloud and Google BigQuery. This will enable AI agents to access real-time information for improved accuracy and decision-making. For example, in supply chain management, AI can track shipments, monitor inventory in Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and anticipate disruptions using real-time data on weather, port congestion, and geopolitical events. Additionally, joint customers will be able to utilize Salesforce’s unified platform—including Agentforce, Data Cloud, and Customer 360—on Google Cloud’s AI-optimized infrastructure. This integration ensures enhanced security through dynamic grounding, zero data retention, and toxicity detection via the Einstein Trust Layer. Businesses will also soon have the option to purchase Salesforce products via the Google Cloud Marketplace. More AI Innovations from Google and Salesforce Google recently announced the development of a personalized AI-powered chatbot that will be integrated into its devices, including smartphones, laptops, and tablets. This tool will automatically answer calls, process requests, and respond on behalf of users. Meanwhile, Salesforce’s Service Assistant—formerly known as Salesforce Service Planner—has launched on Service Cloud. Designed to support live agents, it generates step-by-step plans for resolving customer inquiries by analyzing intent, case history, and customer context. For optimal performance, Salesforce recommends integrating it with Data Cloud and the contact center knowledge base. With this expanded partnership, Google and Salesforce are setting the stage for businesses to leverage cutting-edge AI technology, driving innovation and operational efficiency across industries. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Achieving AI Success Starts with Data Maturity

Achieving AI Success Starts with Data Maturity

True AI success depends on data maturity. But what does that mean in practice? Organizations with high data maturity: The Path to Data Maturity Reaching data maturity requires a strategic commitment to: ✅ Develop a unified data strategy that aligns business and data teams toward common goals.✅ Implement strong data management and governance to ensure accuracy and trust.✅ Leverage advanced data solutions to transform raw data into actionable insights.✅ Prioritize security and compliance to protect data from breaches.✅ Foster a data-driven culture where every employee has the skills to analyze and act on insights. See How John Lewis & Partners Unlocks AI + Data-Driven Personalization “Investing in Salesforce has enabled us to make decisions faster and develop deeper relationships with our customers by providing a more personalized, convenient, and seamless customer experience.” — Libby Hickey, Tableau Product Manager, John Lewis & Partners Assess Your Data Maturity Ready to accelerate your data transformation? 📊 Take the free assessment to: Start your data maturity journey today. Contact Tectonic. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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The Evolving Role of the Chief Experience Officer

Have We Got a Job for You

The Evolving Role of the Chief Experience Officer The chief experience officer (CXO) role varies significantly across different organizations, depending on which department owns customer experience—marketing, customer service, or an independent team. Many companies are still on their first CXO, and the position continues to evolve, particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes integral to customer experience (CX) strategies. According to new research from Deloitte, who surveyed 250 CX leaders across various industries, the CXO role is becoming increasingly technology-driven. AI-powered personalization and automation are reshaping CX, yet CXOs often face significant challenges, including limited influence and budget constraints. Defining the CXO’s Responsibilities The responsibilities of a CXO vary widely based on the organization’s structure. Some CXOs lead initiatives within contact centers, while others focus on product development or digital transformation. Regardless of their direct oversight, CXOs are typically accountable for the end-to-end customer journey, addressing pain points, and driving customer-centric strategies. Reporting structures also differ. Some CXOs report to the chief marketing officer (CMO), while others operate at the same level as the CMO or report directly to the CEO or board. Their role extends beyond operational oversight, requiring them to influence company-wide CX strategies, advocate for customer needs, and oversee the technology platforms that shape customer interactions. One of the critical challenges many CXOs face is acting as the customer’s voice in executive meetings, often playing the role of a contrarian to ensure that customer-centric decisions remain a priority. However, the ultimate goal is to create a company culture where customer advocacy is embedded across leadership, making the CXO’s role less about persuasion and more about strategic execution. Driving Change with Limited Resources CXOs often must drive meaningful change despite limited budgets and internal resistance. In the early stages of the role, proving the business value of CX improvements is imparative. Organizations are more likely to invest in CX when presented with compelling data demonstrating a direct impact on pipeline growth, customer lifetime value, and revenue. By leveraging data-driven insights, CXOs can build a strong business case for customer experience initiatives, making it easier to influence executive decisions and organizational behavior. Technology’s Role in Human-Centered CX With nearly every customer touchpoint mediated through technology, the CXO’s role has increasingly aligned with human-centered design principles. As organizations adopt AI and automation, CXOs ensure that these technologies serve a human purpose—reducing friction in customer interactions, streamlining employee workflows, and enhancing overall engagement. Rather than implementing technology for its own sake, CXOs focus on solving real customer problems, such as minimizing complexity in digital interactions, improving accessibility, and enhancing service responsiveness. This requires a balance between technological feasibility and human desirability, ensuring that innovations align with customer needs rather than complicate them. Emerging Technologies and Their Impact on CX The research highlights that CXOs must stay informed about emerging technologies, including edge computing, blockchain, and neuromorphic computing. These innovations have the potential to reshape CX by enabling real-time data processing, enhancing personalization, and providing new ways to understand customer behavior. As experience leaders, CXOs are constantly evaluating whether these advancements improve or hinder customer interactions. Many are approached by startups offering AI-driven solutions such as sentiment analysis and voice recognition. Their challenge is to discern which technologies genuinely enhance CX and which may introduce unnecessary complexity. Overcoming Organizational Resistance Many CXOs encounter frustration due to the slow pace of change within their organizations. Despite their best efforts, progress can be hindered by structural challenges, risk aversion, and competing priorities. However, perseverance remains key. As technology becomes increasingly powerful, so does the influence of executives who understand its impact on human experiences. Organizations that recognize the value of CX will continue to seek leaders who can quantify its business impact, develop strong use cases, and drive transformation. The growing emphasis on CX and AI-driven customer engagement suggests that demand for skilled CXOs will only increase. Those who can navigate the complexities of organizational change while championing human-centered innovation will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of customer experience. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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AI Data Cloud and Integration

It is Time to Implement Data Cloud

With Salesforce Data Cloud you can: With incomplete data your 360-degree customer view is limited and often leads to multiple sales reps working on the same lead. Slow access to the right leads at the right time leads to missed opportunties and delayed closings. If your team cannot trust the data due to siloes and inaccuracies, they avoid using it. It is Time to Implement Data Cloud. Unified Connect and harmonize data from all your Salesforce applications and external data systems. Then activate your data with insights and automation across every customer touchpoint. Powerful With Data Cloud and Agentforce, you can create the most intelligent agents possible, giving them access to the exact data they need to deliver any employee or customer experience. Secure Securely connect your data to any large language model (LLM) without sacrificing data governance and security thanks to the Einstein 1 trust layer. Open Data Cloud is fully open and extensible – bring your own data lake or model to reduce complexity and leverage what’s already been built. Plus, share out to popular destinations like Snowflake, Google Ads, or Meta Ads. Salesforce Data Cloud is the only hyperscale data engine native to Salesforce. It is more than a CDP. It goes beyond a data lake. You can do more with Data Cloud. Your Agentforce journey begins with Data Cloud. Agents need the right data to work. With Data Cloud, you can create the most intelligent agents possible, giving them access to the exact data they need to deliver any employee or customer experience. Use any data in your organization with Agentforce in a safe and secure manner thanks to the Einstein 1 Trust Layer. Datablazers are Salesforce community members who are passionate about driving business growth with data and AI powered by Data Cloud. Sign up to join a growing group of members to learn, connect, and grow with Data Cloud. Join today. The path to AI success begins and ends with quality data. Business, IT, and analytics decision makers with high data maturity were 2x more likely than low-maturity leaders to have the quality data needed to use AI effectively, according to our State of Data and Analytics report. “What’s data maturity?” you might wonder. Hang tight, we’ll explain in chapter 1 of this guide. Data-leading companies also experience: Your data strategy isn’t just important, it’s critical in getting you to the head of the market with new AI technology by your side. That’s why this Salesforce guide is based on recent industry findings and provides best practices to help your company get the most from your data. Tectonic will be sharing a focus on the 360 degree customer view with Salesforce Data Cloud in our insights. Stay tuned. It is Time to Implement Data Cloud Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Generative AI in Marketing

Generative AI in Marketing

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) continues to reshape industries, providing product managers (PMs) across domains with opportunities to embrace AI-focused innovation and enhance their technical expertise. Over the past few years, GenAI has gained immense popularity. AI-enabled products have proliferated across industries like a rapidly expanding field of dandelions, fueled by abundant venture capital investment. From a product management perspective, AI offers numerous ways to improve productivity and deepen strategic domain knowledge. However, the fundamentals of product management remain paramount. This discussion underscores why foundational PM practices continue to be indispensable, even in the evolving landscape of GenAI, and how these core skills can elevate PMs navigating this dynamic field. Why PM Fundamentals Matter, AI or Not Three core reasons highlight the enduring importance of PM fundamentals and actionable methods for excelling in the rapidly expanding GenAI space. 1. Product Development is Inherently Complex While novice PMs might assume product development is straightforward, the reality reveals a web of interconnected and dynamic elements. These may include team dependencies, sales and marketing coordination, internal tooling managed by global teams, data telemetry updates, and countless other tasks influencing outcomes. A skilled product manager identifies and orchestrates these moving pieces, ensuring product growth and delivery. This ability is often more impactful than deep technical AI expertise (though having both is advantageous). The complexity of modern product development is further amplified by the rapid pace of technological change. Incorporating AI tools such as GitHub Copilot can accelerate workflows but demands a strong product culture to ensure smooth integration. PMs must focus on fundamentals like understanding user needs, defining clear problems, and delivering value to avoid chasing fleeting AI trends instead of solving customer problems. While AI can automate certain tasks, it is limited by costs, specificity, and nuance. A PM with strong foundational knowledge can effectively manage these limitations and identify areas for automation or improvement, such as: 2. Interpersonal Skills Are Irreplaceable As AI product development grows more complex, interpersonal skills become increasingly critical. PMs work with diverse teams, including developers, designers, data scientists, marketing professionals, and executives. While AI can assist in specific tasks, strong human connections are essential for success. Key interpersonal abilities for PMs include: Stakeholder management remains a cornerstone of effective product management. PMs must build trust and tailor their communication to various audiences—a skill AI cannot replicate. 3. Understanding Vertical Use Cases is Essential Vertical use cases focus on niche, specific tasks within a broader context. In the GenAI ecosystem, this specificity is exemplified by AI agents designed for narrow applications. For instance, Microsoft Copilot includes a summarization agent that excels at analyzing Word documents. The vertical AI market has experienced explosive growth, valued at .1 billion in 2024 and projected to reach .1 billion by 2030. PMs are crucial in identifying and validating these vertical use cases. For example, the team at Planview developed the AI Assistant “Planview Copilot” by hypothesizing specific use cases and iteratively validating them through customer feedback and data analysis. This approach required continuous application of fundamental PM practices, including discovery, prioritization, and feedback internalization. PMs must be adept at discovering vertical use cases and crafting strategies to deliver meaningful solutions. Key steps include: Conclusion Foundational product management practices remain critical, even as AI transforms industries. These core skills ensure that PMs can navigate the challenges of GenAI, enabling organizations to accelerate customer value in work efficiency, time savings, and quality of life. By maintaining strong fundamentals, PMs can lead their teams to thrive in an AI-driven future. AI Agents on Madison Avenue: The New Frontier in Advertising AI agents, hailed as the next big advancement in artificial intelligence, are making their presence felt in the world of advertising. Startups like Adaly and Anthrologic are introducing personalized AI tools designed to boost productivity for advertisers, offering automation for tasks that are often time-consuming and tedious. Retail brands such as Anthropologie are already adopting this technology to streamline their operations. How AI Agents WorkIn simple terms, AI agents operate like advanced AI chatbots. They can handle tasks such as generating reports, optimizing media budgets, or analyzing data. According to Tyler Pietz, CEO and founder of Anthrologic, “They can basically do anything that a human can do on a computer.” Big players like Salesforce, Microsoft, Anthropic, Google, and Perplexity are also championing AI agents. Perplexity’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, recently suggested that businesses will soon compete for the attention of AI agents rather than human customers. “Brands need to get comfortable doing this,” he remarked to The Economic Times. AI Agents Tailored for Advertisers Both Adaly and Anthrologic have developed AI software specifically trained for advertising tasks. Built on large language models like ChatGPT, these platforms respond to voice and text prompts. Advertisers can train these AI systems on internal data to automate tasks like identifying data discrepancies or analyzing economic impacts on regional ad budgets. Pietz noted that an AI agent can be set up in about a month and take on grunt work like scouring spreadsheets for specific figures. “Marketers still log into 15 different platforms daily,” said Kyle Csik, co-founder of Adaly. “When brands in-house talent, they often hire people to manage systems rather than think strategically. AI agents can take on repetitive tasks, leaving room for higher-level work.” Both Pietz and Csik bring agency experience to their ventures, having crossed paths at MediaMonks. Industry Response: Collaboration, Not Replacement The targets for these tools differ: Adaly focuses on independent agencies and brands, while Anthrologic is honing in on larger brands. Meanwhile, major holding companies like Omnicom and Dentsu are building their own AI agents. Omnicom, on the verge of merging with IPG, has developed internal AI solutions, while Dentsu has partnered with Microsoft to create tools like Dentsu DALL-E and Dentsu-GPT. Havas is also developing its own AI agent, according to Chief Activation Officer Mike Bregman. Bregman believes AI tools won’t immediately threaten agency jobs. “Agencies have a lot of specialization that machines can’t replace today,” he said. “They can streamline processes, but

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The Rise of AI Agents: 2024 and Beyond

The Rise of AI Agents: 2024 and Beyond

In 2024, we witnessed major breakthroughs in AI agents. OpenAI’s o1 and o3 models demonstrated the ability to deconstruct complex tasks, while Claude 3.5 showcased AI’s capacity to interact with computers like humans—navigating interfaces and running software. These advancements, alongside improvements in memory and learning systems, are pushing AI beyond simple chat interactions into the realm of autonomous systems. AI agents are already making an impact in specialized fields, including legal analysis, scientific research, and technical support. While they excel in structured environments with defined rules, they still struggle with unpredictable scenarios and open-ended challenges. Their success rates drop significantly when handling exceptions or adapting to dynamic conditions. The field is evolving from conversational AI to intelligent systems capable of reasoning and independent action. Each step forward demands greater computational power and introduces new technical challenges. This article explores how AI agents function, their current capabilities, and the infrastructure required to ensure their reliability. What is an AI Agent? An AI agent is a system designed to reason through problems, plan solutions, and execute tasks using external tools. Unlike traditional AI models that simply respond to prompts, agents possess: Understanding the shift from passive responders to autonomous agents is key to grasping the opportunities and challenges ahead. Let’s explore the breakthroughs that have fueled this transformation. 2024’s Key Breakthroughs OpenAI o3’s High Score on the ARC-AGI Benchmark Three pivotal advancements in 2024 set the stage for autonomous AI agents: AI Agents in Action These capabilities are already yielding practical applications. As Reid Hoffman observed, we are seeing the emergence of specialized AI agents that extend human capabilities across various industries: Recent research from Sierra highlights the rapid maturation of these systems. AI agents are transitioning from experimental prototypes to real-world deployment, capable of handling complex business rules while engaging in natural conversations. The Road Ahead: Key Questions As AI agents continue to evolve, three critical questions for us all emerge: The next wave of AI innovation will be defined by how well we address these challenges. By building robust systems that balance autonomy with oversight, we can unlock the full potential of AI agents in the years ahead. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Agentforce Redefines Generative AI

Agentforce and Commerce Cloud

SharkNinja, a global product design and technology company, is implementing Salesforce’s Agentforce and Commerce Cloud to enhance its global customer service operations. The company, known for its Shark and Ninja brands of household products, aims to scale support across more than 30 markets using autonomous agents. Agentforce will create an AI-powered digital workforce available 24/7 to assist customers with buying processes, product inquiries, troubleshooting, and returns management. This implementation will allow human agents to focus on high-impact interactions while providing tailored support based on customer data and purchase history. The integration of Commerce Cloud will enable SharkNinja to consolidate customer data from multiple sources into a unified view, facilitating more personalized shopping experiences and better tracking of customer engagement across their global customer base. Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the world’s #1 AI CRM, today announced that SharkNinja, a global product design and technology company, is implementing Agentforce and other Salesforce products, including Commerce Cloud, to drive global growth by scaling its personalized customer service approach with autonomous agents. SharkNinja is a global leader in indoor and outdoor household products, transforming how people cook, clean, and live in homes around the world. As the innovation powerhouse behind two multi-billion-dollar brands — Shark and Ninja — SharkNinja is renowned for its diversified portfolio of cutting-edge products, including Shark vacuum cleaners and beauty tools, as well as Ninja kitchen appliances, such as blenders, air fryers, and ice cream makers. To support its rapid, global growth, SharkNinja is embracing solutions that will scale support and service more efficiently across more than 30 markets while delivering a seamless consumer shopping experience. Agentforce, a new layer on the Salesforce Platform, will enable SharkNinja to easily build and deploy AI agents that can autonomously take action across any business function. With Agentforce, SharkNinja will have an always-on, digital workforce available 24/7 to guide customers through the buying process, answer product questions, troubleshoot issues, and manage returns — streamlining human agent workloads so they can focus on meaningful, high-impact interactions. “Innovation is the driver behind every product SharkNinja creates across our vast portfolio, so it was really important to find a tool that could give us the capabilities needed to be just as innovative across every consumer interaction,” said Velia Carboni, CIO, SharkNinja. “We believe Agentforce is this key to helping us build a community that keeps consumers coming back as we continue to grow and develop new problem-solving innovations that positively impact people’s lives in homes around the world.” “SharkNinja prioritizes quality, innovation, and an exceptional customer experience,” said Adam Evans, EVP & GM of Salesforce AI Platform. “By integrating customer data with service and support functions, Agentforce enables SharkNinja to deliver an exceptional experience at every touchpoint — building customer loyalty and keeping them coming back time and time again.” Agentforce will also help SharkNinja enhance brand loyalty through tailored support interactions that deliver targeted solutions and recommendations based on insights from customer data from previous purchases and service history. SharkNinja will also leverage Commerce Cloud, enabling the company to consolidate customer data from multiple sources into a single, unified view. This integration will enable the delivery of more personalized shopping experiences for each customer. At the same time, having unified touchpoints will allow SharkNinja to more effectively track engagement across its global customer base. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Five9 Deepens Salesforce Partnership

Five9 Deepens Salesforce Partnership to Advance AI-Powered Contact Centers Five9 is strengthening its collaboration with Salesforce to help mutual customers streamline service environments and implement AI-powered agents that enhance customer interactions. A Strategic Partnership in AI & Customer Service The announcement comes as Five9 celebrates a 17% year-over-year (YoY) revenue growth, with Chairman & CEO Mike Burkland crediting the company’s expanding partner network for driving success. While acknowledging partnerships with Microsoft, Google, ServiceNow, and Verint, Burkland highlighted Five9’s deepening relationship with Salesforce, emphasizing: “Salesforce and Five9 share a vision where AI agents and human agents work together to elevate customer experiences.” A key focus of this partnership is enhancing integration between Five9 and Agentforce, Salesforce’s platform for autonomous AI agents. This marks the first CCaaS vendor integration with Agentforce, opening up new opportunities for intelligent, industry-specific AI applications. Industry-Specific AI Agents: A Game Changer By embedding Agentforce capabilities within the Five9-Salesforce CCaaS-CRM ecosystem, businesses can automate critical customer service workflows. Some examples include: These are just a few use cases demonstrating how AI-driven automation can transform customer engagement across industries. CCaaS vs. CRM: Who Will Lead AI in Contact Centers? As AI reshapes customer service, industry analysts have questioned whether businesses will favor their CRM provider over their CCaaS vendor for AI-driven automation. Burkland dismissed this as a false choice, explaining: “It’s going to be a mix. Even if an organization chooses Salesforce for their AI, they still need access to all the contextual data in our platform. Salesforce knows they need us, and we welcome that relationship. Our goal is to do what’s best for the customer.” The Future of AI-Powered Customer Engagement By deepening its Salesforce integration and leading the way in AI-driven service automation, Five9 is positioning itself as a key player in the evolution of intelligent contact centers. As businesses increasingly seek to blend human expertise with AI efficiency, this partnership paves the way for seamless, personalized, and automated customer experiences at scale. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Building Trusted AI

Building Trusted AI: A Roadmap for IT Leaders AI is revolutionizing how organizations operate, fueling workflows, creativity, and innovation at unprecedented levels. It’s no surprise that nearly 70% of senior IT leaders now consider AI a top business priority. But with great potential comes great responsibility. AI introduces challenges around trust, security, and ethics, extending far beyond today’s implementations. To fully harness AI’s power—while ensuring transparency and security—IT leaders must take a structured, responsible approach. Here are five key steps to maximize AI’s potential without compromising trust. Step 1: Build AI on a Foundation of Quality Data AI is only as good as the data it’s built on. Generative AI models rely on vast datasets to generate meaningful outputs—but poor-quality data can lead to bias, irrelevance, or even harmful results. To ensure data integrity:✔ Diversify data sources to reflect different perspectives, scenarios, and contexts, reducing bias.✔ Clean and normalize data to minimize noise and ensure consistent quality.✔ Use tools like Privacy Center to manage data across multiple sources and eliminate duplicates.✔ Continuously refine datasets to stay aligned with evolving trends and insights. By prioritizing high-quality, well-managed data, organizations set a strong foundation for ethical and reliable AI systems. Learn how AI works and how to use it responsibly on Trailhead, Salesforce’s free learning platform. Step 2: Define Ethical Boundaries and Strengthen Data Privacy Trust is built on respecting customer privacy and protecting sensitive data. With AI systems handling personally identifiable information (PII) and other confidential data, strong policies are essential. Key actions to prioritize AI ethics and privacy: 🔹 Adopt secure, compliant data handling from collection to storage (Privacy Center helps manage retention policies).🔹 Implement data minimization—collect only what’s needed and retain it only as long as necessary.🔹 Encrypt sensitive data and limit access to authorized personnel and systems.🔹 Form an ethical AI task force to oversee compliance and mitigate legal or reputational risks. Transparency in data collection and usage builds trust and helps prevent misuse. Step 3: Conduct Regular AI Audits Even with ethical safeguards, AI can produce unintended biases, inaccuracies, or misinformation—especially in critical decision-making scenarios. A robust AI auditing strategy includes: ✔ Automated compliance checks to scan AI outputs against ethical standards and policies.✔ User feedback loops (surveys, interviews) to assess AI performance and its real-world impact.✔ Risk identification and mitigation—proactively addressing emerging challenges. Regular audits ensure AI remains accurate, fair, and aligned with business objectives. Step 4: Strengthen AI Security and Monitoring AI systems process valuable data, making security a top priority—especially in regulated industries. In response, governments worldwide, including the U.S. White House and the EU, are introducing policies for independent AI audits. How to protect AI systems: ✔ Define strict access controls to limit AI interactions to authorized users only.✔ Use tools like Security Center to manage user permissions and secure configurations.✔ Conduct ongoing security reviews (including penetration testing and quality control).✔ Enable Event Monitoring to set alerts or block unintended AI actions. By embedding security into every layer of AI processes, organizations can trust the AI they deploy. Step 5: Prioritize Transparency and Encourage Feedback A lack of transparency breeds distrust. In fact, only 42% of customers trusted businesses to use AI ethically in 2024—a 16% decline from the previous year. How to build AI transparency: 🔹 Clearly label AI-generated content so users know when AI is at work.🔹 Document AI processes to explain how data is collected, processed, and used.🔹 Disclose AI auditing and security measures to reinforce trust.🔹 Actively gather feedback to assess AI’s impact and align it with organizational values. Transparency isn’t just about compliance—it’s about building lasting trust with customers and stakeholders. Trusted AI is a Journey, Not a Destination Building trustworthy AI requires continuous effort—not just a one-time fix. Organizations must take a proactive approach to data quality, security, audits, and transparency. Platforms like Agentforce are designed to support responsible AI adoption—from policy creation to implementation—helping businesses innovate securely and ethically. By embedding trust into AI strategies today, businesses can lead with confidence tomorrow. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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