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Einstein Service Agent

It’s been a little over a year since the global surge in GenAI chatbots, sparked by the excitement around ChatGPT. Since then, numerous vendors, both large and mid-sized, have invested heavily in the technology, and many users have already adopted AI-powered chatbots. The competition is intensifying, with CRM giant Salesforce releasing its own GenAI chatbot software, Einstein Service Agent. Einstein Service Agent, built on the Einstein 1 Platform, is Salesforce’s first fully autonomous AI agent. It interacts with large language models (LLMs) by analyzing the context of customer messages to determine the next actions. Utilizing GenAI, the agent generates conversational responses grounded in a company’s trusted business data, including Salesforce CRM data. Salesforce claims that service organizations can now significantly reduce the number of tedious inquiries that hinder productivity, allowing human agents to focus on more complex tasks. For customers, this means getting answers faster without waiting for human agents. Additionally, the service promises 24/7 availability for customer communication in natural language, with an easy handoff to human agents for more complicated issues. Businesses are increasingly turning to AI-based chatbots because, unlike traditional chatbots, they don’t rely on specific programmed queries and can understand context and nuance. Alongside Salesforce, other tech leaders like AWS and Google Cloud have released their own chatbots, such as Amazon Lex and Vertex AI, continuously enhancing their software. Recently, AWS updated its chatbot with the QnAIntent capability in Amazon Lex, allowing integration with a knowledge base in Amazon Bedrock. Similarly, Google released Vertex AI Agent Builder earlier this year, enabling organizations to build AI agents with no code, which can function together with one main agent and subagents. The AI arms race is just beginning, with more vendors developing software to meet market demands. For users, this means that while AI takes over many manual and tedious tasks, the primary challenge will be choosing the right vendor that best suits the needs and resources of their business. 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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Native Salesforce App to Simplify Event Management

Native Salesforce App to Simplify Event Management

Why a Native Salesforce App Changes Everything Streamlined Event Operations Blackthorn.io’s platform eliminates the need for external integrations by operating entirely within Salesforce. This means event data—registrations, payments, and attendee interactions—is instantly accessible and linked to existing CRM records in real-time. Case in Point: USC Marshall School of Business Facing inefficiencies in manual data entry and registration processes, USC Marshall School adopted Blackthorn.io’s solution. They leveraged branded event pages, automated attendee check-ins, and simplified scaling for admissions events. The Salesforce-native architecture streamlined data analysis, ensuring a single source of truth and improving follow-ups with prospective students. Harnessing Salesforce Data for Personalization Blackthorn.io’s platform empowers organizations to personalize event experiences using CRM data. For example: Traditional event tech systems only pull basic fields into Salesforce. In contrast, Blackthorn.io leverages all standard and custom Salesforce fields, enabling planners to design deeply personalized event experiences. Addressing Integration Challenges Event planners often face inefficiencies caused by integrating third-party platforms with Salesforce, such as data flow disruptions, duplicate management, and delays. Blackthorn.io removes these obstacles by unifying event data with CRM data. This seamless approach enables real-time management of everything from registration to post-event follow-ups, cutting hours of manual work. 🔔🔔  Follow us on LinkedIn  🔔🔔 Applications Across Industries Corporate Events Higher Education Healthcare Nonprofits Associations AI and Automation: Redefining Event Planning Leverage Salesforce AI Blackthorn.io taps into Salesforce’s AI capabilities to deliver advanced insights, such as correlating event attendance with conversion likelihood. This reduces planning time and enhances decision-making. AgentForce AI AgentForce from SalesforceLaunching in 2025, Blackthorn.io’s upcoming AgentForce-based AI will analyze multiple data sources for insights beyond traditional reporting. It will answer questions like, “Which events are most effective for donor acquisition?” Scaling with Personalization Key Features Clients Love The Blackthorn Advantage By operating natively within Salesforce, Blackthorn.io simplifies event management while empowering organizations to deliver personalized, data-driven experiences. Its unified approach to event data eliminates inefficiencies, scales effortlessly, and opens up new opportunities for meaningful engagement across industries. Ready to transform your event management? Discover the power of Blackthorn.io with Tectonic and start planning smarter 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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AI Agent Rivalry

Generative AI in CX

Generative AI in CX: Opportunities and Challenges Generative AI offers the promise of transformative efficiency and innovation in customer experience (CX). However, businesses face significant hurdles in adopting the technology, including budget constraints, compliance challenges, and internal alignment issues. A Growing Gap Between Innovation and AdoptionCX technology vendors often outpace their customers in releasing advanced features. With generative AI, this gap feels wider than ever. For example, Zendesk’s CX Trends 2025 report revealed that over 25% of surveyed businesses have delayed AI adoption due to budgetary, knowledge, or organizational support barriers. Similarly, an October survey by NTT Data found that more than half of senior IT decision-makers had yet to align generative AI strategies with business goals. While only 39% of respondents reported significant investments in generative AI, most companies remain in early phases, such as pilots and trials. Some businesses, however, have no plans to invest at all. Early Adoption in CXDespite these challenges, early adopters are exploring generative AI applications in customer service and contact centers. AI-powered bots, or “agents,” are proving effective in summarizing answers and improving efficiency. However, deploying these agents requires substantial preparation, such as organizing customer data and defining roles and processes—a significant task for many IT teams. John Seeds, CMO at TTEC Digital, emphasized the importance of using generative AI internally first:“We start by addressing inconsistencies and cleaning up data. Once that’s done, businesses can present it effectively to reduce inbound calls and enhance self-service in contact centers.” Expanding Beyond Customer ServiceGenerative AI is also being embraced by marketing and e-commerce teams. Platforms like Salesforce, Google, and Sitecore have introduced tools that assist with campaign ideation and content creation. While these tools don’t always produce polished outputs, they serve as powerful starting points for creatives. The Generative AI RevolutionAI has been a staple in CX for years, powering analytics, natural language processing, and automation. But the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022 revolutionized the field. John Ball, SVP at ServiceNow, noted:“Generative AI has removed the need for handcrafting every dialogue or intent model. It opens up possibilities for chat and email recommendations without requiring as much manual setup.” Similarly, Salesforce AI executives, including Silvio Savarese, highlighted the technology’s unprecedented adoption:“It was incredible to see how quickly generative AI captured global attention,” Savarese said. Questions of Autonomy and TrustThe rise of AI agents introduces questions about trust and autonomy. Can bots make decisions that keep customers happy? What happens if they make mistakes? As companies explore these possibilities, many are focusing on augmenting human workflows rather than replacing them entirely. For example, Trimedx plans to use ServiceNow’s generative AI to automate report generation for its clinical hardware in hospitals. This application aims to save time while supporting human decision-making. Similarly, Siemens has deployed its own AI “bionic agent” to handle tasks like supply chain management, with generative AI accelerating customization and productivity. Regulatory and Ethical ConsiderationsAs adoption grows, so do concerns around compliance and copyright. The Biden administration’s recent CX-related regulations, including a ban on junk fees, could influence how AI is integrated into business processes. Additionally, initiatives like Adobe’s Content Authenticity Initiative aim to ensure transparency in AI-generated content by providing tools to verify the origins and editing history of digital assets. The Road AheadGenerative AI holds immense potential to transform CX by improving efficiency, reducing costs, and driving innovation. However, businesses must address challenges in data readiness, compliance, and ethical usage to fully realize its benefits. While early adopters are making strides, widespread success will depend on thoughtful implementation and alignment with organizational goals. 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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Agentic AI is Here

On Premise Gen AI

In 2025, enterprises transitioning generative AI (GenAI) into production after years of experimentation are increasingly considering on-premises deployment as a cost-effective alternative to the cloud. Since OpenAI ignited the AI revolution in late 2022, organizations have tested large language models powering GenAI services on platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. These experiments demonstrated GenAI’s potential to enhance business operations while exposing the substantial costs of cloud usage. To avoid difficult conversations with CFOs about escalating cloud expenses, CIOs are exploring on-premises AI as a financially viable solution. Advances in software from startups and packaged infrastructure from vendors such as HPE and Dell are making private data centers an attractive option for managing costs. A survey conducted by Menlo Ventures in late 2024 found that 47% of U.S. enterprises with at least 50 employees were developing GenAI solutions in-house. Similarly, Informa TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group reported a rise in enterprises considering on-premises and public cloud equally for new applications—from 37% in 2024 to 45% in 2025. This shift is reflected in hardware sales. HPE reported a 16% revenue increase in AI systems, reaching $1.5 billion in Q4 2024. During the same period, Dell recorded a record .6 billion in AI server orders, with its sales pipeline expanding by over 50% across various customer segments. “Customers are seeking diverse AI-capable server solutions,” noted David Schmidt, senior director of Dell’s PowerEdge server line. While heavily regulated industries have traditionally relied on on-premises systems to ensure data privacy and security, broader adoption is now driven by the need for cost control. Fortune 2000 companies are leading this trend, opting for private infrastructure over the cloud due to more predictable expenses. “It’s not unusual to see cloud bills exceeding 0,000 or even million per month,” said John Annand, an analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. Global manufacturing giant Jabil primarily uses AWS for GenAI development but emphasizes ongoing cost management. “Does moving to the cloud provide a cost advantage? Sometimes it doesn’t,” said CIO May Yap. Jabil employs a continuous cloud financial optimization process to maximize efficiency. On-Premises AI: Technology and Trends Enterprises now have alternatives to cloud infrastructure, including as-a-service solutions like Dell APEX and HPE GreenLake, which offer flexible pay-per-use pricing for AI servers, storage, and networking tailored for private data centers or colocation facilities. “The high cost of cloud drives organizations to seek more predictable expenses,” said Tiffany Osias, vice president of global colocation services at Equinix. Walmart exemplifies in-house AI development, creating tools like a document summarization app for its benefits help desk and an AI assistant for corporate employees. Startups are also enabling enterprises to build AI applications with turnkey solutions. “About 80% of GenAI requirements can now be addressed with push-button solutions from startups,” said Tim Tully, partner at Menlo Ventures. Companies like Ragie (RAG-as-a-service) and Lamatic.ai (GenAI platform-as-a-service) are driving this innovation. Others, like Squid AI, integrate custom AI agents with existing enterprise infrastructure. Open-source frameworks like LangChain further empower on-premises development, offering tools for creating chatbots, virtual assistants, and intelligent search systems. Its extension, LangGraph, adds functionality for building multi-agent workflows. As enterprises develop AI applications internally, consulting services will play a pivotal role. “Companies offering guidance on effective AI tool usage and aligning them with business outcomes will thrive,” Annand said. This evolution in AI deployment highlights the growing importance of balancing technological innovation with financial sustainability. 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 evolves with tools like Agentforce and Atlas

Agentforce Powered Marketing

Maximize Team Productivity and Customer Engagement with Agentforce and AI-Powered Marketing Tools Transform your marketing operations with Agentforce, an advanced AI-powered suite seamlessly integrated into your platform. From building end-to-end campaigns to personalizing touchpoints in real time, Agentforce empowers your team to optimize performance with actionable AI insights. Here’s how: Revolutionize Campaign Management with Agentforce Agent-Driven Campaign Briefs Streamline campaign creation with Agentforce, which uses structured and unstructured data from Data Cloud to create tailored campaign briefs. Define your target segments and key messages effortlessly with the support of AI. AI-Powered Content Creation Leverage Agentforce to generate on-brand content at scale, including email subject lines, body copy, and SMS messages. Every piece of content aligns with your brand guidelines and campaign goals, ensuring consistency and relevance across audiences. Unified SMS Conversations Turn static promotions into dynamic, two-way conversations with Agentforce Unified SMS. Automatically connect customers to AI agents for tasks like appointment scheduling and offer redemption, delivering seamless customer experiences. Supercharge Insights and Actions with Data Cloud Agent-Driven AI Segmentation Create target audience segments in minutes using natural language prompts. With Agentforce and Data Cloud working in harmony, agents translate prompts into precise segment attributes—no technical expertise or SQL required. Integrate or Build Custom AI Models Develop predictive AI models with clicks, not code, or bring in existing models via direct integrations with tools like Amazon SageMaker, Google Vertex AI, or Databricks. Use these models to generate actionable predictions, such as purchase propensity or churn likelihood. Secure, Harmonized Data Foundation Keep your data safe on the Einstein Trust Layer while enabling agents to analyze harmonized, structured, and unstructured data in Data Cloud. This ensures informed decision-making without compromising security. Automate Intelligent Journeys with Marketing Cloud Engagement Journey Optimization Automate personalized campaign variations with predictive AI. Optimize engagement by tailoring content, timing, channels, and frequency dynamically across customer journeys. Generative AI for Content Creation Solve the content bottleneck with generative AI tools that instantly create on-brand copy and visuals grounded in first-party data, campaign insights, and brand guidelines—all while safeguarding trust. Real-Time Messaging Insights Stay proactive with Einstein Messaging Insights, which flags engagement anomalies like sudden drops in click-through rates. These real-time insights enable quick resolutions, preventing performance surprises. Unified WhatsApp Conversations Transform WhatsApp into a dynamic two-way engagement channel. Use a single WhatsApp number to connect marketing and service teams while enabling AI-driven self-service actions like appointment booking and offer redemptions. Scale Lead Generation and Account-Based Marketing Agent-Driven Campaign Creation Accelerate campaign planning with Agentforce, which handles everything from briefs to audience segmentation, content, and journey creation. Ground campaigns in real-time customer data for accurate targeting, all with marketer oversight for approvals. AI Lead and Account Scoring Boost alignment between marketing and sales with Einstein AI Scoring, which identifies top leads and prospects automatically. Improve ABM strategies with automated account rankings based on historical and behavioral data, driving higher conversions. Full-Funnel Attribution Gain end-to-end visibility with AI-powered multi-touch attribution. Use models like Einstein Attribution to measure the impact of each channel, event, or team activity on your pipeline, boosting ROI and campaign efficiency. Personalization on Auto-Pilot with AI Objective-Based AI Recommendations Set business objectives and let AI optimize product and content recommendations to achieve those goals. AI-Automated Offers Combine real-time customer behavior data with AI-driven insights to personalize offers across touchpoints. This results in higher satisfaction and conversion rates tailored to each individual customer. Real-Time Affinity Profiling Use AI to uncover customer affinities, preferences, and intent in real time. Deliver hyper-personalized messaging and offers across your website, app, and other channels for maximum engagement. Optimize Spend, Planning, and Performance with Marketing Cloud Intelligence AI-Powered Data Integration Say goodbye to spreadsheets and manual data maintenance. Automate data unification, KPI standardization, and cross-channel analytics with AI-powered connectors, saving time and boosting campaign effectiveness. AI Campaign Performance Insights Get interactive visualizations and AI-generated insights to adjust campaign spend and offers mid-flight. Use these insights to optimize ROI and maximize in-the-moment opportunities. Predictive Budgeting and Planning Allocate budgets more effectively with predictive AI. Real-time alerts help prevent overages or underspending, ensuring your marketing dollars are used efficiently for maximum return. With Agentforce and AI marketing tools, your team can focus on what matters most—building stronger customer relationships and driving measurable results. 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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Amazon Q Business

Amazon Q Business

Amazon Q Business: Revolutionizing Enterprise Productivity with Generative AI and Plugins Amazon Q Business is a generative AI-powered assistant that empowers employees by solving problems, generating content, and offering actionable insights from across enterprise data sources. In addition to its robust search capabilities across indexed third-party services, Amazon Q Business enables real-time access to dynamic data like stock prices, vacation balances, and location tracking through its plugins. These plugins also allow employees to perform direct actions—such as prioritizing service tickets—within enterprise applications, all through a single interface. This eliminates the need to toggle between systems, saving valuable time and increasing productivity. This insight delves into how Amazon Q Business plugins seamlessly integrate with enterprise applications through built-in and custom configurations. We’ll explore: Simplifying Enterprise Tasks with Plugins Amazon Q Business enables users to access non-indexed data—such as calendar availability, stock prices, or PTO balances—and execute actions like booking a meeting or submitting PTO using services like Jira, ServiceNow, Salesforce, Fidelity, Vanguard, ADP, Workday, and Google Calendar. This unified approach streamlines workflows and minimizes reliance on multiple apps for task completion. Solution Overview Amazon Q Business connects to over 50 enterprise applications using connectors and plugins: Plugins are categorized into two types: Built-in Plugins Amazon Q Business supports more than 50 actions across applications: Category Application Sample Actions Ticketing ServiceNow Create, update, delete tickets Zendesk Suite Search, create, update tickets Project Management Jira Cloud Read, create, update, delete issues Smartsheet Search and manage sheets and reports CRM Salesforce Manage accounts, opportunities, and cases Communication Microsoft Teams Send private or channel messages Productivity Google Calendar Find events, list calendars Salesforce Plugin Example The Salesforce plugin allows users to: Configuration Steps: Custom Plugins For scenarios not covered by built-in plugins, custom plugins enable seamless integration with proprietary systems. For example: HR Time Off Plugin Example This plugin allows employees to: Setup Steps: End-to-End Use Cases 1. Salesforce Integration Sam, a Customer Success Manager, retrieves high-value opportunities using the Salesforce plugin. She creates a new case directly from the Amazon Q interface, enhancing efficiency by reducing application switching. 2. ServiceNow Ticket Management Sam uses Amazon Q Business to resolve a laptop email sync issue. After referencing indexed IT documentation, she creates a ServiceNow ticket and escalates it directly through the plugin interface. 3. HR System Integration Sam checks her PTO balance and submits a vacation request using the HR Time Off custom plugin, ensuring seamless task completion without switching to another app. Impact on Workflow Efficiency Amazon Q Business plugins simplify workflows by: Conclusion Amazon Q Business plugins represent a transformative step in automating enterprise workflows and enhancing employee productivity. From preconfigured integrations to custom-built solutions, these plugins provide unparalleled flexibility to adapt to diverse business needs. How can Amazon Q Business transform workflows in your organization? Whether through built-in integrations or custom solutions, explore the power of Amazon Q Business plugins to unlock new levels of efficiency. Share your feedback and use cases to inspire innovation across enterprises! 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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Apple's Privacy Changes: A Call for Email Marketing Innovation

Liar Liar Apple on Fire

Apple Developing Update After AI System Generates Inaccurate News Summaries Apple is working on a software update to address inaccuracies generated by its Apple Intelligence system after multiple instances of false news summaries were reported. The BBC first alerted Apple in mid-December to significant errors in the system, including a fabricated summary that falsely attributed a statement to BBC News. The summary suggested Luigi Mangione, accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had shot himself, a claim entirely unsubstantiated. Other publishers, such as ProPublica, also raised concerns about Apple Intelligence producing misleading summaries. While Apple did not respond immediately to the BBC’s December report, it issued a statement after pressure mounted from groups like the National Union of Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, both of which called for the removal of Apple Intelligence. Apple assured stakeholders it is working to refine the technology. A Widespread AI Issue: Hallucinations Apple joins the ranks of other AI vendors struggling with generative AI hallucinations—instances where AI produces false or misleading information. In October 2024, Perplexity AI faced a lawsuit from Dow Jones & Co. and the New York Post over fabricated news content attributed to their publications. Similarly, Google had to improve its AI summaries after providing users with inaccurate information. On January 16, Apple temporarily disabled AI-generated summaries for news apps on iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices. The Core Problem: AI Hallucination Chirag Shah, a professor of Information Science at the University of Washington, emphasized that hallucination is inherent to the way large language models (LLMs) function. “The nature of AI models is to generate, synthesize, and summarize, which makes them prone to mistakes,” Shah explained. “This isn’t something you can debug easily—it’s intrinsic to how LLMs operate.” While Apple plans to introduce an update that clearly labels summaries as AI-generated, Shah believes this measure falls short. “Most people don’t understand how these headlines or summaries are created. The responsible approach is to pause the technology until it’s better understood and mitigation strategies are in place,” he said. Legal and Brand Implications for Apple The hallucinated summaries pose significant reputational and legal risks for Apple, according to Michael Bennett, an AI adviser at Northeastern University. Before launching Apple Intelligence, the company was perceived as lagging in the AI race. The release of this system was intended to position Apple as a leader. Instead, the inaccuracies have damaged its credibility. “This type of hallucinated summarization is both an embarrassment and a serious legal liability,” Bennett said. “These errors could form the basis for defamation claims, as Apple Intelligence misattributes false information to reputable news sources.” Bennett criticized Apple’s seemingly minimal response. “It’s surprising how casual Apple’s reaction has been. This is a major issue for their brand and could expose them to significant legal consequences,” he added. Opportunity for Publishers The incident highlights the need for publishers to protect their interests when partnering with AI vendors like Apple and Google. Publishers should demand stronger safeguards to prevent false attributions and negotiate new contractual clauses to minimize brand risk. “This is an opportunity for publishers to lead the charge, pushing AI companies to refine their models or stop attributing false summaries to news sources,” Bennett said. He suggested legal action as a potential recourse if vendors fail to address these issues. Potential Regulatory Action The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may also scrutinize the issue, as consumers paying for products like iPhones with AI capabilities could argue they are not receiving the promised service. However, Bennett believes Apple will likely act to resolve the problem before regulatory involvement becomes necessary. 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 Energy Consumption Rises

Generative AI Tools

Generative AI Tools: A Comprehensive Overview of Emerging Capabilities The widespread adoption of generative AI services like ChatGPT has sparked immense interest in leveraging these tools for practical enterprise applications. Today, nearly every enterprise app integrates generative AI capabilities to enhance functionality and efficiency. A broad range of AI, data science, and machine learning tools now support generative AI use cases. These tools assist in managing the AI lifecycle, governing data, and addressing security and privacy concerns. While such capabilities also aid in traditional AI development, this discussion focuses on tools specifically designed for generative AI. Not all generative AI relies on large language models (LLMs). Emerging techniques generate images, videos, audio, synthetic data, and translations using methods such as generative adversarial networks (GANs), diffusion models, variational autoencoders, and multimodal approaches. Here is an in-depth look at the top categories of generative AI tools, their capabilities, and notable implementations. It’s worth noting that many leading vendors are expanding their offerings to support multiple categories through acquisitions or integrated platforms. Enterprises may want to explore comprehensive platforms when planning their generative AI strategies. 1. Foundation Models and Services Generative AI tools increasingly simplify the development and responsible use of LLMs, initially pioneered through transformer-based approaches by Google researchers in 2017. 2. Cloud Generative AI Platforms Major cloud providers offer generative AI platforms to streamline development and deployment. These include: 3. Use Case Optimization Tools Foundation models often require optimization for specific tasks. Enterprises use tools such as: 4. Quality Assurance and Hallucination Mitigation Hallucination detection tools address the tendency of generative models to produce inaccurate or misleading information. Leading tools include: 5. Prompt Engineering Tools Prompt engineering tools optimize interactions with LLMs and streamline testing for bias, toxicity, and accuracy. Examples include: 6. Data Aggregation Tools Generative AI tools have evolved to handle larger data contexts efficiently: 7. Agentic and Autonomous AI Tools Developers are creating tools to automate interactions across foundation models and services, paving the way for autonomous AI. Notable examples include: 8. Generative AI Cost Optimization Tools These tools aim to balance performance, accuracy, and cost effectively. Martian’s Model Router is an early example, while traditional cloud cost optimization platforms are expected to expand into this area. Generative AI tools are rapidly transforming enterprise applications, with foundational, cloud-based, and domain-specific solutions leading the way. By addressing challenges like accuracy, hallucination, and cost, these tools unlock new potential across industries and use cases, enabling enterprises to stay ahead in the AI-driven landscape. 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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Scope of Generative AI

Exploring Generative AI

Like most employees at most companies, I wear a few different hats around Tectonic. Whether I’m building a data model, creating and scheduing an email campaign, standing up a platform generative AI is always at my fingertips. At my very core, I’m a marketer. Have been for so long I do it without eveven thinking. Or at least, everyuthing I do has a hat tip to its future marketing needs. Today I want to share some of the AI content generators I’ve been using, am looking to use, or just heard about. But before we rip into the insight, here’s a primer. Types of AI Content Generators ChatGPT, a powerful AI chatbot, drew significant attention upon its November 2022 release. While the GPT-3 language model behind it had existed for some time, ChatGPT made this technology accessible to nontechnical users, showcasing how AI can generate content. Over two years later, numerous AI content generators have emerged to cater to diverse use cases. This rapid development raises questions about the technology’s impact on work. Schools are grappling with fears of plagiarism, while others are embracing AI. Legal debates about copyright and digital media authenticity continue. President Joe Biden’s October 2023 executive order addressed AI’s risks and opportunities in areas like education, workforce, and consumer privacy, underscoring generative AI’s transformative potential. What is AI-Generated Content? AI-generated content, also known as generative AI, refers to algorithms that automatically create new content across digital media. These algorithms are trained on extensive datasets and require minimal user input to produce novel outputs. For instance, ChatGPT sets a standard for AI-generated content. Based on GPT-4o, it processes text, images, and audio, offering natural language and multimodal capabilities. Many other generative AI tools operate similarly, leveraging large language models (LLMs) and multimodal frameworks to create diverse outputs. What are the Different Types of AI-Generated Content? AI-generated content spans multiple media types: Despite their varied outputs, most generative AI systems are built on advanced LLMs like GPT-4 and Google Gemini. These multimodal models process and generate content across multiple formats, with enhanced capabilities evolving over time. How Generative AI is Used Generative AI applications span industries: These tools often combine outputs from various media for complex, multifaceted projects. AI Content Generators AI content generators exist across various media. Below are good examples organized by gen ai type: Written Content Generators Image Content Generators Music Content Generators Code Content Generators Other AI Content Generators These tools showcase how AI-powered content generation is revolutionizing industries, making content creation faster and more accessible. I do hope you will comment below on your favorites, other AI tools not showcased above, or anything else AI-related that is on your mind. Written by Tectonic’s Marketing Operations Director, Shannan Hearne. 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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ThoughtSpot AI agent Spotter enables conversational BI

ThoughtSpot AI agent Spotter enables conversational BI

ThoughtSpot Unveils Spotter: A Generative AI-Powered Data Agent ThoughtSpot, a leading analytics vendor, has launched Spotter, an advanced generative AI-powered agent designed to revolutionize how users interact with data. Spotter enables conversational data exploration, contextual understanding, and autonomous analysis, making it a significant leap forward in the analytics landscape. Spotter’s Role in ThoughtSpot’s Evolution Spotter replaces Sage, ThoughtSpot’s earlier generative AI-powered interface, which debuted in March 2023. Despite moving from private to public preview and gaining new capabilities, Sage never reached general availability. Spotter is now generally available for ThoughtSpot Analytics, while its embedded version is in beta testing. Unlike earlier AI tools that focused on question-and-answer interactions, such as Sage and Microsoft’s copilots, Spotter takes the concept further by integrating contextual awareness and autonomous decision-making. Spotter doesn’t just respond to queries; it suggests follow-up questions, identifies anomalies, and provides proactive insights, functioning more like a virtual analyst than a reactive chatbot. Key Features of Spotter Spotter is built to enhance productivity and insight generation through the following capabilities: Generative AI’s Growing Impact on BI ThoughtSpot has long aimed to make analytics accessible to non-technical users through natural language search. However, previous NLP tools often required users to learn specific vocabularies, limiting widespread adoption. Generative AI bridges this gap. By leveraging extensive vocabularies and LLM technology, tools like Spotter enable users of all skill levels to access and analyze data effortlessly. Spotter stands out with its ability to deliver proactive insights, identify trends, and adapt to user behavior, enhancing the decision-making process. Expert Perspectives on Spotter Donald Farmer, founder of TreeHive Strategy, highlighted Spotter’s autonomy as a game-changer: “Spotter is a big move forward for ThoughtSpot and AI. The natural language interface is more conversational, but the key advantage is its autonomous analysis, which identifies trends and insights without users needing to ask.” Mike Leone, an analyst at TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group, emphasized Spotter’s ability to adapt to users: “Spotter’s ability to deliver personalized and contextually relevant responses is critical for organizations pursuing generative AI initiatives. This goes a long way in delivering unique value across a business.” Farmer also pointed to Spotter’s embedded capabilities, noting its growing appeal as an embedded analytics solution integrated with productivity tools like Salesforce and ServiceNow. Competitive Positioning Spotter aligns ThoughtSpot with other vendors embracing agentic AI in analytics. Google recently introduced Conversational Analytics in Looker, and Salesforce’s Tableau platform now includes Tableau Agent. ThoughtSpot’s approach builds on its core strength in search-based analytics while expanding into generative AI-driven capabilities. Leone observed: “ThoughtSpot is right in line with the market in delivering an agentic experience and is laying the groundwork for broader AI functionality over time.” A Step Toward the Future of Analytics With Spotter, ThoughtSpot is redefining the role of AI in business intelligence. The tool combines conversational ease, proactive insights, and seamless integration, empowering users to make data-driven decisions more efficiently. As generative AI continues to evolve, tools like Spotter demonstrate how businesses can unlock the full potential of their data. 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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Salesforce Omni-Channel

Salesforce Channels

Channels Email Messaging Voice Open CTI Social Media Chat Channel Tools Email Updates Messaging Enhancements Voice Improvements Social Media Chat Updates Other Channel Tools These updates enhance the messaging, email, voice, and chat experiences, streamlining agent workflows, improving customer interactions, and providing greater customization. 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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1 Billion Enterprise AI Agents

Inside Salesforce’s Ambition to Deploy 1 Billion Enterprise AI Agents Salesforce is making a bold play in the enterprise AI space with its recently launched Agentforce platform. Introduced at the annual Dreamforce conference, Agentforce is positioned to revolutionize sales, marketing, commerce, and operations with autonomous AI agents, marking a significant evolution from Salesforce’s previous Einstein AI platform. What Makes Agentforce Different? Agentforce operates as more than just a chatbot platform. It uses real-time data and user-defined business rules to proactively manage tasks, aiming to boost efficiency and enhance customer satisfaction. Built on Salesforce’s Data Cloud, the platform simplifies deployment while maintaining powerful customization capabilities: “Salesforce takes care of 80% of the foundational work, leaving customers to focus on the 20% that truly differentiates their business,” explains Adam Forrest, SVP of Marketing at Salesforce. Forrest highlights how Agentforce enables businesses to build custom agents tailored to specific needs by incorporating their own rules and data sources. This user-centric approach empowers admins, developers, and technology teams to deploy AI without extensive technical resources. Early Adoption Across Industries Major brands have already adopted Agentforce for diverse use cases: These real-world applications illustrate Agentforce’s potential to transform workflows in industries ranging from retail to hospitality and education. AI Agents in Marketing: The New Frontier Salesforce emphasizes that Agentforce isn’t just for operations; it’s poised to redefine marketing. AI agents can automate lead qualification, optimize outreach strategies, and enhance personalization. For example, in account-based marketing, agents can analyze customer data to identify high-value opportunities, craft tailored strategies, and recommend optimal engagement times based on user behavior. “AI agents streamline lead qualification by evaluating intent signals and scoring leads, allowing sales teams to focus on high-priority prospects,” says Jonathan Franchell, CEO of B2B marketing agency Ironpaper. Once campaigns are launched, Agentforce monitors performance in real time, offering suggestions to improve ROI and resource allocation. By integrating seamlessly with CRM platforms, the tool also facilitates better collaboration between marketing and sales teams. Beyond B2C applications, AI agents in B2B contexts can evaluate customer-specific needs and provide tailored product or service recommendations, further enhancing client relationships. Enabling Creativity Through Automation By automating repetitive tasks, Agentforce aims to free marketers to focus on strategy and creativity. Dan Gardner, co-founder of Code and Theory, describes this vision: “Agentic AI eliminates friction and dissolves silos in data, organizational structures, and customer touchpoints. The result? Smarter insights, efficient distribution, and more time for creatives to do what they do best: creating.” Competitive Landscape and Challenges Despite its promise, Salesforce faces stiff competition. Microsoft—backed by its integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT—has unveiled AI tools like Copilot, and other players such as Google, ServiceNow, and HubSpot are advancing their own AI platforms. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has not shied away from the rivalry. On the Masters of Scale podcast, he criticized Microsoft for overpromising on products like Copilot, asserting that Salesforce delivers tangible value: “Our tools show users exactly what is possible, what is real, and how easy it is to derive huge value from AI.” Salesforce must also demonstrate Agentforce’s scalability across diverse industries to capture a significant share of the enterprise AI market. A Transformative Vision for the Future Agentforce represents Salesforce’s commitment to bringing AI-powered automation to the forefront of enterprise operations. With its focus on seamless deployment, powerful customization, and real-time capabilities, the platform aims to reshape how businesses interact with customers and optimize internal processes. By targeting diverse use cases and emphasizing accessibility for both technical and non-technical users, Salesforce is betting on Agentforce to drive adoption at scale—and position itself as a leader in the increasingly competitive AI market. 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 Agents Set to Break Through in 2025

AI Agents Set to Break Through in 2025

2025: The Year AI Agents Transform Work and Life Despite years of hype around artificial intelligence, its true disruptive impact has so far been limited. However, industry experts believe that’s about to change in 2025 as autonomous AI agents prepare to enter and reshape nearly every facet of our lives. Since OpenAI’s ChatGPT took the world by storm in late 2022, billions of dollars have been funneled into the AI sector. Big tech and startups alike are racing to harness the transformative potential of the technology. Yet, while millions now interact with AI chatbots daily, turning them into tools that deliver tangible business value has proven challenging. A recent study by Boston Consulting Group revealed that only 26% of companies experimenting with AI have progressed beyond proof of concept to derive measurable value. This lag reflects the limitations of current AI tools, which serve primarily as copilots—capable of assisting but requiring constant oversight and remaining prone to errors. AI Agents Set to Break Through in 2025 The status quo, however, is poised for a radical shift. Autonomous AI agents—capable of independently analyzing information, making decisions, and taking action—are expected to emerge as the industry’s next big breakthrough. “For the first time, technology isn’t just offering tools for humans to do work,” Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff wrote in Time. “It’s providing intelligent, scalable digital labor that performs tasks autonomously. Instead of waiting for human input, agents can analyze information, make decisions, and adapt as they go.” At their core, AI agents leverage the same large language models (LLMs) that power tools like ChatGPT. But these agents take it further, acting as reasoning engines that develop step-by-step strategies to execute tasks. Armed with access to external data sources like customer records or financial databases and equipped with software tools, agents can achieve goals independently. While current LLMs still face reasoning limitations, advancements are on the horizon. New models like OpenAI’s “o1” and DeepSeek’s “R1” are specialized for reasoning, sparking hope that 2025 will see agents grow far more capable. Big Tech and Startups Betting Big Major players are already gearing up for this new era. Startups are also eager to carve out their share of the market. According to Pitchbook, funding deals for agent-focused ventures surged by over 80% in 2024, with the median deal value increasing nearly 50%. Challenges to Overcome Despite the enthusiasm, significant hurdles remain. 2025: A Turning Point Despite these challenges, many experts believe 2025 will mark the mainstream adoption of AI agents. A New World of Work No matter the pace, it’s clear that AI agents will dominate the industry’s focus in 2025. If the technology delivers on its promise, the workplace could undergo a profound transformation, enabling entirely new ways of working and automating tasks that once required human intervention. The question isn’t if agents will redefine the way we work—it’s how fast. By the end of 2025, the shift could be undeniable. 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 Agents

AI Agents Unveiled

A comprehensive research effort has led to the introduction of a simplified model designed to address two fundamental questions: Building upon this model, an additional practical question is examined: 1. Why Does It Matter? Understanding the concept of an “AI agent” can be challenging, particularly for individuals who simply use AI in their daily workflows. The distinction between AI agents, copilots, and assistants is critical in determining the nature of the AI tools being used for work or personal applications. Those seeking a technical breakdown may proceed directly to the “Agentic AI Features” section. For AI power users or professionals responsible for AI implementation within an organization, recognizing the emerging AI tools and their functionalities is essential. Similarly, individuals working at AI startups should understand their product’s positioning within the market and be aware of industry trends that may impact future development. The year 2025 is widely anticipated as the period when AI agents will become enterprise-ready and well-understood by the market. This development is viewed as part of a long-term trend: However, despite these forecasts, the term “AI agent” remains vague, requiring further clarification. 2. AI Agent Definitions A widely accepted definition from Gartner Innovation Insights (April 2024) states: “AI agents are autonomous or semi-autonomous software entities that use AI techniques to perceive, make decisions, take actions, and achieve goals in their digital or physical environments.” This definition highlights five key capabilities, with autonomy serving as the distinguishing factor that separates AI agents from other software with similar functionalities. MarketsandMarkets expands upon this definition by adding two additional high-level characteristics: “AI agents operate within specific environments, interfacing with users, systems, or other agents, and are characterized by their capacity for adaptive learning, context-aware processing, and autonomous function across varied applications.” Autonomous agents are significant because they have the potential to function as employees or coworkers. Furthermore, their ability to collaborate with other AI agents fosters the development of human-AI teams capable of human-like teamwork. 3. AI Agents vs. AI Workflows vs. AI Copilots AI-driven software entities do not necessarily need to be fully agentic to be classified as AI agents. Many exist as semi-autonomous agents, possessing memory and goal-driven decision-making but lacking external tools, sensors, or multi-agent interaction capabilities (refer to Section 5 for specific examples). Currently, the distinction between AI agents and other AI tools is not universally defined. Instead, this differentiation exists across multiple dimensions, including decision types, action types, and other functional capabilities. The following sections explore these distinctions further. 3.1. Business Perspective: AI Workflows and Agents A 2024 article by Anthropic highlights an important distinction: For companies implementing AI tools, even basic AI workflows provide value. However, these workflows introduce challenges for developers and users alike. The evolution of agentic AI platforms could alleviate these challenges, enhancing automation capabilities. 3.2. Personal Perspective: AI Copilots and Agents From an individual user’s perspective, an AI copilot often suffices without requiring the full capabilities of an AI agent. Copilots support decision-making by offering context-specific recommendations and working collaboratively with users over multiple iterations. AI copilots exhibit characteristics such as: Capabilities such as autonomy and goal-oriented behavior define AI agents. The ability to interact dynamically with an environment—beyond simple information retrieval—further differentiates agents from copilots and assistants. 4. Agentic AI Capabilities and Features Chart The following distinctions emerge from the “agentic capabilities model”: One area of debate concerns memory. Some sources claim memory is exclusive to AI agents, while others argue that true copilots must possess memory to offer personalized assistance. This distinction is often influenced by business marketing strategies rather than purely technical considerations. 5. Mapping AI Tools to Agentic Capabilities AI tools vary widely in versatility. Some specialize in narrow tasks, while others serve broad use cases. 5.1. Specialized AI Tools Many widely used AI tools focus on specific tasks, such as: These tools function as AI-powered utilities rather than true AI assistants, copilots, or agents. 5.2. Advanced Versatile AI Assistants More versatile AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and POE, enable broad conversations and contextual processing. Notably: The distinction between AI assistants, copilots, and agents will continue evolving as AI technology advances. Understanding these differences is crucial for businesses and users seeking to maximize AI’s potential in various applications. 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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