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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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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salesforce agentforce ai powered agentic agents

Agentforce 2.0 Unveiled

Salesforce Unveils Agentforce 2.0: Transforming Workflows with Enhanced AI Reasoning and Data Integration Salesforce has launched Agentforce 2.0, the next-generation version of its digital labor platform, offering enterprises new pre-built skills, advanced workflow integrations, and enhanced AI reasoning capabilities. Designed to create a “limitless workforce,” Agentforce 2.0 equips businesses with AI agents capable of executing complex tasks across any department, system, or workflow with improved precision and efficiency. Key Enhancements in Agentforce 2.0 1. Expanded Pre-Built Skills and IntegrationsAgentforce 2.0 introduces a robust library of pre-built agent skills compatible with Salesforce CRM, Slack, Tableau, and partner-developed tools on the AppExchange. Additionally, integrations with MuleSoft allow businesses to extend Agentforce capabilities across any system or workflow. 2. Advanced AI Reasoning and RetrievalPowered by Salesforce’s upgraded Atlas Reasoning Engine and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) technology, the platform now handles deeply nuanced queries and multi-step tasks, leveraging enriched context from Data Cloud. 3. Enhanced Agent BuilderAgentforce’s updated Agent Builder can interpret natural language instructions—such as “onboard new team members”—to auto-generate agents and workflows. It also pulls from the expanded skill library to streamline agent creation, saving time and improving customizability. 4. Slack IntegrationSlack Actions are now embedded into Agentforce, enabling AI agents to interact directly within Slack. For example, agents can send direct messages summarizing project updates or modify Slack Canvas documents in response to customer feedback. Industry Impact and Adoption Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO of Salesforce, highlighted the transformative potential of Agentforce 2.0:“This launch takes our digital labor platform to the next level, blending AI, data, apps, and automation to reshape how businesses operate. Agentforce 2.0 empowers organizations to build a limitless workforce, delivering unprecedented levels of intelligence, customization, and efficiency.” Leading enterprises like Accenture, The Adecco Group, IBM, Finnair, and Indeed are already leveraging Agentforce to augment operations. A Growing Market for Digital Labor The release of Agentforce 2.0 responds to surging demand for agentic AI, with Salesforce closing 200 platform deals within a week and adding thousands more to its pipeline. According to CEO Marc Benioff, Salesforce plans to expand its salesforce by 2,000 workers to support adoption. “Digital labor is the new horizon for businesses,” Benioff remarked. “The way we architect, run, and staff our organizations is undergoing a fundamental transformation.” Challenges and Opportunities While the platform promises significant productivity gains, analysts warn of potential governance and security concerns. By 2028, Gartner predicts AI agent misuse could account for 25% of enterprise breaches. Salesforce emphasizes the importance of robust security measures to support adoption and mitigate risks. With over 80% of executives planning to deploy AI agents within three years (according to Capgemini), Agentforce 2.0 positions Salesforce as a leader in the evolving digital workforce space. Agentforce 2.0 is now available globally, with early adopters reporting improved scalability, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. For more information, visit the Salesforce Agentforce product page. About SalesforceSalesforce is a global leader in customer relationship management (CRM), enabling companies to connect with customers in new and innovative ways. With cutting-edge AI, data, and automation solutions, Salesforce empowers businesses to drive productivity, efficiency, and growth. For more details, visit www.salesforce.com. About TectonicWe are a niche, high quality, service-oriented US based technology services provider.We specialize in helping companies take advantage of the cross section between CRM, marketing, the use of data and analytics to shape behaviors and drive desired financial performance results. We have industry leading delivery capabilities addressing some of the most complex technology services, integrations and Salesforce implementation. Our delivery teams have over 200 certifications across a wide variety of technology services and products, including products, services and solutions serving sales, services, marketing, communities, customers, clients, operations, call centers, loyalty programs, just to name a few. In addition, we have highly skilled, cost effective off-shore delivery capabilities that allow us to provide our services at competitive, value added pricing levels. Please reach out and let us see how we can help you and your company. Tectonic is your Salesforce implementation partner. For more details, visit www.gettectonic.com. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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More Cool AI Tools

Salesforce Expands Partnership with AWS

Salesforce Expands Partnership with AWS: AI and Marketplace Integration Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) is making significant strides in its partnership with Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), unveiling an expanded collaboration at AWS. Customers can now purchase Salesforce products directly through the AWS Marketplace, paying with AWS credits. This integration aims to simplify access to Salesforce offerings, enhance data integration capabilities, and leverage generative AI tools. Key Announcements: Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO of Salesforce, highlighted the importance of this milestone: “We’re bringing together the No. 1 AI CRM provider and the leading cloud provider to deliver a trusted, open, integrated data and AI platform. With these enhancements to our partnership, we’re enabling all of our customers to be more innovative, productive, and successful in this new AI era.” AWS CEO Adam Selipsky echoed these sentiments, emphasizing how the partnership will enable joint customers to “innovate, collaborate, and build more customer-focused applications.” Strategic Benefits: Revenue-Sharing Structure: Like app stores, Amazon will take a percentage of Salesforce’s revenue generated through AWS Marketplace. Despite this, the potential growth in sales and efficiency gains may outweigh the costs. Market Reaction: Following the announcement, both Salesforce and Amazon shares experienced a boost in premarket trading, signaling investor optimism about the partnership’s potential. This expansion reinforces Salesforce’s strategy of aligning with major cloud providers to meet growing demand for AI-driven, integrated data platforms. As this collaboration evolves, it is poised to drive significant value for businesses navigating the AI and data revolution. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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agentforce digital workforce

Agentforce – The Digital Labor Market

Salesforce’s latest financial results delivered strong numbers, but the real story of the moment is Agentforce—a revolutionary step into the emerging Digital Labor market. CEO Marc Benioff has made it clear that this platform will be the centerpiece of Salesforce’s strategy moving into 2025. Financial Performance In Q3, Salesforce posted an impressive $9.44 billion in revenue, an 8% year-over-year increase, with net income rising 25% to $1.5 billion. Here’s the breakdown of revenue by cloud segment: The company also raised its revenue guidance for the fiscal year, now projecting .8– billion, up 8%–9% year-over-year. Following the announcement, Salesforce shares jumped 10%. Enter Agentforce: The Future of Work The post-earnings call focused heavily on Agentforce, which Benioff describes as more transformative than the data management market itself. Launched in late October, Agentforce has already secured 200 deals and boasts a significant pipeline of potential transactions. According to Benioff: “Agentforce is the next evolution of Salesforce—a platform where AI agents work alongside humans in a digital workforce, amplifying and augmenting human capabilities while delivering unparalleled speed.” Benioff envisions a world where these AI agents not only assist humans but also transform entire industries. He stated: “Agentforce will drive a new era of economic growth by unlocking a scalable digital workforce, providing businesses the ability to achieve both scale and efficiency simultaneously.” Early Adoption and Use Cases Agentforce’s potential is already being realized by customers across industries, including FedEx, Adecco, Accenture, ACE Hardware, IBM, and RBC Wealth Management. For instance: Internally, Salesforce has integrated Agentforce into its operations, using it to handle over 60 million help portal sessions and 2 million support cases annually. This internal transformation hints at broader industry impacts as businesses adopt Agentforce to automate and optimize workflows. Implications for the Workforce Benioff addressed how Agentforce will reshape traditional workforces, emphasizing that this shift doesn’t necessarily mean job losses. Instead, companies will need to rebalance their headcounts, focusing on areas critical for growth while automating routine tasks. Salesforce itself is hiring 1,400 sales account executives globally to capitalize on Agentforce’s growing demand. Benioff argued: “History has shown us that disruption brings new opportunities. Entire industries will emerge, fueled by creativity and innovation, as Agentforce enables organizations to solve challenges and reach new heights.” Competitive Landscape Salesforce faces competition in the AI agent space, particularly from Microsoft’s Copilot. However, Benioff was quick to point out that Salesforce’s AI solutions are deeply integrated with its platform and customer data, offering a unique advantage: “While others tout AI, Salesforce operates its company on its platform with low hallucination rates, thanks to training on 300 petabytes of real company data.” Looking Ahead As Salesforce heads into 2025, Agentforce is set to dominate its strategy. This shift mirrors past pivotal moments in tech, such as Microsoft’s 1995 pivot to the internet. Salesforce executives, led by Benioff, are laser-focused on driving Agentforce adoption, positioning it as the linchpin of the company’s growth and innovation. Chief Operating Officer Brian Millham reinforced this vision, highlighting the potential for Agentforce across all Salesforce clouds—from Service Cloud to Marketing Cloud and Data Cloud: “The initial 200 deals are just the tip of the iceberg. The opportunity ahead for Agentforce is massive.” Conclusion Salesforce’s Q3 results showcased strong financial performance, but the real excitement lies in Agentforce. By spearheading the Digital Labor revolution, Salesforce is not only reshaping its own operations but also helping businesses worldwide unlock new levels of productivity, innovation, and economic growth. As 2025 unfolds, all eyes will be on Salesforce to see how it delivers on this bold vision. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Ushering in the Era of AI-Driven Workforces

Agentforce: Ushering in the Era of AI-Driven Workforces “Agentforce is redefining what’s possible in business and beyond, ushering in a new era of AI abundance and limitless workforces that augment every employee, build deeper customer relationships, and drive unprecedented growth and profitability.”— Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO Key Features and Takeaways Out-of-the-Box AI Agents Agentforce introduces pre-built, customizable agents that are deployable with low-code or no-code tools, working tirelessly across any channel. Its first generally available solution, the Agentforce Service Agent, surpasses traditional chatbots by handling a diverse range of tasks—from simple inquiries to complex scenarios. Key capabilities include: Seamless Integration with Salesforce Platform Agentforce eliminates the complexity of building AI solutions from scratch. Unlike other platforms that demand intricate data integration and custom automation, Agentforce is fully embedded within the Salesforce ecosystem. With Agentforce, businesses can: Always-On Automation Agentforce operates independently of human intervention. Agents can be triggered by changes in data, predefined business rules, or pre-built automations, ensuring uninterrupted workflows. This blend of autonomous operation and human collaboration creates a symbiotic relationship between people and AI, enhancing productivity and customer satisfaction. A Competitive Edge in the AI Space Salesforce emphasizes that Agentforce goes beyond chatbots and copilots, setting a new benchmark for enterprise AI. In a strategic swipe at competitors, Marc Benioff likened rival offerings—like Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 AI agents—to “Clippy 2.0,” critiquing their inaccuracies and risks of corporate data leaks. By contrast, Agentforce builds on Salesforce’s proven Einstein AI platform, ensuring reliability, scalability, and secure integration. Redefining Customer Success Agentforce isn’t just about automation—it’s about driving outcomes. By enabling businesses to automate complex processes, deepen customer relationships, and scale operations, it paves the way for limitless growth in the age of AI. Ready to transform your workforce? With Agentforce, the future of AI-driven business is already here. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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rise of digital workers

Rise of Digital Workers

The Rise of Digital Workers: Unlocking a New Era of Opportunity Over the past two years, advancements in artificial intelligence have sparked a revolution in how humans work, live, and connect. While impressive generative AI models have garnered significant attention, a new paradigm of autonomous AI agents is emerging, promising transformative changes to industries and societies alike. Unlike traditional “predictive AI,” which analyzes data for recommendations, and “generative AI,” which creates content based on learned patterns, autonomous AI agents go a step further. These agents operate independently, executing tasks, making decisions, and even negotiating with other agents. This evolution introduces an intelligent digital workforce capable of scaling operations, reducing costs, and enhancing productivity. Consider a large retailer during the holiday season. Instead of relying on human workers or pre-programmed software to address customer inquiries or update inventory, autonomous agents can seamlessly manage customer interactions, monitor stock levels, reorder items, and coordinate shipping—all without human intervention. This level of automation represents a groundbreaking shift, enabling businesses to operate on an unprecedented scale. Expanding the Reach of Digital Labor Autonomous AI agents are breaking traditional barriers of human availability and physical constraints, enabling businesses to scale globally and more efficiently. These digital workers are not limited by geography, opening opportunities previously restricted to specific locations. However, this shift comes with challenges. Ensuring trust, accountability, and transparency in AI systems is critical. Equally important is investing in human-centric skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability, which remain uniquely human. Sustainability is another concern, as AI-driven technologies place increasing demands on energy and resources. By addressing these issues, societies can unlock the full potential of digital labor while safeguarding the planet and human values. Transforming Everyday Lives Beyond businesses, autonomous agents are poised to transform personal lives. Personalized agents can act as tutors for students, guiding them through their learning journeys. For individuals, these agents can manage everyday tasks, from scheduling appointments to coordinating complex logistics. In healthcare, AI agents are already alleviating administrative burdens on providers. For example, intelligent agents can handle patient communications, monitor progress, and schedule follow-ups, freeing doctors and nurses to focus on complex cases. Such innovations hold the potential to revolutionize patient care and improve outcomes across the board. Navigating Disruption and Change Like any transformative technology, the rise of autonomous agents will bring disruptions. Some industries will struggle to adapt, and jobs will inevitably evolve—or, in some cases, disappear. History shows, however, that technological revolutions often create far more opportunities than they displace. For example, the U.S. workforce grew by over 100 million jobs between 1950 and 2020, many in industries that didn’t exist before. The key lies in preparing workers for new roles through education and training. Autonomous agents are essential in addressing global challenges such as labor shortages and stagnant productivity growth. They amplify human capabilities, driving innovation and boosting economic output. For example, in the third quarter of 2024, U.S. productivity rose by 2.2%, fueled in part by AI advancements. Driving Innovation and Collaboration AI agents are also fostering innovation, sparking the creation of new companies and industries. More than 5,000 AI-focused startups have emerged in the past decade in the U.S. alone. This trend mirrors the technological revolutions driven by past innovations like microchips, the internet, and smartphones. However, effectively harnessing agentic AI requires collaboration among governments, businesses, nonprofits, and academia. Initiatives like the G7’s framework for AI accountability and the Bletchley Declaration emphasize transparency, safety, and data privacy, offering critical guardrails as AI adoption accelerates. A Vision for the Future Autonomous agents represent a powerful force for change, offering unprecedented opportunities for businesses and individuals alike. By leveraging these technologies responsibly and investing in human potential, societies can ensure a future of abundance and progress. As Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, emphasizes, “AI has the potential to elevate every company, fuel economic growth, uplift communities, and lead to a future of abundance. If trust is our north star, agents will empower us to make a meaningful impact at an unprecedented 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Microsoft Copilot as “Repackaged ChatGPT”

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff Criticizes Microsoft Copilot as “Repackaged ChatGPT” Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff took aim at Microsoft’s Copilot AI offerings during Salesforce’s latest quarterly earnings call, dismissing them as a rebranding of OpenAI’s generative AI technology. “In many ways, it’s just repackaged ChatGPT,” Benioff asserted. He contrasted this with Salesforce’s platform, emphasizing its unique ability to operate an entire business. “You won’t find that capability on Microsoft’s website,” he added. Benioff highlighted Agentforce, Salesforce’s autonomous AI agent product, as a transformative force for both Salesforce and its customers. The tool, available on Salesforce’s support portal, is projected to manage up to half of the company’s annual support case volume. The portal currently handles over 60 million sessions and 2 million support cases annually. Agentforce Adoption and Partner Involvement Salesforce COO Brian Millham outlined the significant role of partners in driving Agentforce adoption. During the quarter, global partners were involved in 75% of Agentforce deals, including nine of Salesforce’s top 10 wins. More than 80,000 system integrators have completed Agentforce training, and numerous independent software vendors (ISVs) and technology partners are developing and selling AI agents. Millham pointed to Accenture as a notable example, leveraging Agentforce to enhance sales operations for its 52,000 global sellers. “Our partners are becoming agent-first enterprises themselves,” Millham said. Since its general availability on October 24, Agentforce has already secured 200 deals, with thousands more in the pipeline. Benioff described the tool as part of a broader shift toward digital labor, claiming, “Salesforce is now the largest supplier of digital labor.” Expanding Use Cases and Market Impact Agentforce, powered by Salesforce’s extensive data repository of 740,000 documents and 200–300 petabytes of information, supports diverse use cases, including resolving customer issues, qualifying leads, closing deals, and optimizing marketing campaigns. Salesforce has committed to hiring 1,000–2,000 additional salespeople to expand Agentforce adoption further. Benioff positioned Salesforce as the leading enterprise AI provider, citing its 2 trillion weekly transactions through its Einstein AI product. He claimed Salesforce’s unified codebase provides a competitive edge, unlike rival systems that run disparate applications, potentially limiting AI effectiveness. “This is a bold leap into the future of work,” Benioff said, “where AI agents collaborate with humans to revolutionize customer interactions.” AI Growth Across Salesforce Products AI-driven growth extended beyond Agentforce to other Salesforce products: Millham noted that AI-related $1 million+ deals more than tripled year over year. Financial Highlights For Q3 FY2024, Salesforce reported: Looking ahead, Salesforce expects Q4 revenue between $9.9 billion and $10.1 billion, representing 7%–9% year-over-year growth. The company raised its full fiscal year revenue guidance to .8– billion, an 8%–9% increase. Industry and Product Insights Salesforce’s growth was driven by its core clouds and subscription services, with health, life sciences, manufacturing, and automotive industries performing particularly well. However, retail and consumer goods saw slower growth. While subscription revenue for MuleSoft and Tableau decelerated, Salesforce’s broader portfolio continued to deliver robust performance. Benioff concluded by emphasizing the transformative potential of Salesforce’s AI ecosystem: “This is the next evolution of Salesforce—an intelligent, scalable technology that’s no longer tied to workforce 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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AI Agent Trends

AI Agent Trends

AI Agents: Key Statistics and Trends for 2025 “The agent revolution is real and as exciting as the cloud, social, and mobile revolutions,” remarked Salesforce Chair and CEO Marc Benioff. “It will provide a level of transformation that we’ve never seen.” With the general availability of Agentforce, the era of AI-powered agents is officially here. These intelligent software agents, designed to perform tasks autonomously or in collaboration with humans, are already transforming businesses by driving efficiency and improving customer outcomes. AI Agents in Action Companies across the globe are leveraging AI agents to achieve remarkable results. For example, Wiley has seen a 40% boost in case resolution rates with Agentforce, far surpassing their previous bot’s performance. Other success stories from Saks and Opentable reinforce the ROI potential of this groundbreaking technology. Salesforce research highlights data from consumers, employees, and business leaders worldwide, demonstrating how AI agents address key pain points while unlocking significant opportunities for enterprises and individuals alike. Why Consumers Need AI Agents Traditional customer service processes often frustrate consumers, leading to inefficiency and dissatisfaction: AI agents are transforming this landscape with immediate, personalized assistance that minimizes wait times and eliminates repeated explanations. Consumer sentiment indicates a growing acceptance of this technology: Why Enterprises Need AI Agents For enterprises, inefficiency is a persistent challenge. Time-consuming administrative tasks often prevent workers from focusing on strategic, customer-centric activities: AI adoption is increasingly a priority for revenue-generating teams, with measurable benefits: Salesforce experts emphasize that while AI has already proven its value in service, sales, marketing, and commerce, the surface of its potential has only just been scratched. The Agent-First Future As organizations adopt an agent-first approach, they unlock opportunities to redefine operations, increase efficiency, and drive innovation: AI agents are not just the future—they’re the present solution to enduring challenges, empowering businesses to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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DHS Introduces AI Framework to Protect Critical Infrastructure

DHS Introduces AI Framework to Protect Critical Infrastructure

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has unveiled the Roles and Responsibilities Framework for Artificial Intelligence in Critical Infrastructure, a voluntary set of guidelines designed to ensure the safe and secure deployment of AI across the systems that power daily life. From energy grids to water systems, transportation, and communications, critical infrastructure increasingly relies on AI for enhanced efficiency and resilience. While AI offers transformative potential—such as detecting earthquakes, optimizing energy usage, and streamlining logistics—it also introduces new vulnerabilities. Framework Overview The framework, developed with input from cloud providers, AI developers, critical infrastructure operators, civil society, and public sector organizations, builds on DHS’s broader policies from 2023, which align with White House directives. It aims to provide a shared roadmap for balancing AI’s benefits with its risks. AI Vulnerabilities in Critical Infrastructure The DHS framework categorizes vulnerabilities into three key areas: The guidelines also address sector-specific vulnerabilities and offer strategies to ensure AI strengthens resilience while minimizing misuse risks. Industry and Government Support Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM, lauded the framework as a “powerful tool” for fostering responsible AI development. “We look forward to working with DHS to promote shared and individual responsibilities in advancing trusted AI systems.” Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, emphasized the framework’s role in fostering collaboration among stakeholders while prioritizing trust and accountability. “Salesforce is committed to humans and AI working together to advance critical infrastructure industries in the U.S. We support this framework as a vital step toward shaping the future of AI in a safe and sustainable manner.” DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas highlighted the urgency of proactive action. “AI offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the strength and resilience of U.S. critical infrastructure, and we must seize it while minimizing its potential harms. The framework, if widely adopted, will help ensure the safety and security of critical services.” DHS Recommendations for Stakeholders A Call to Action DHS encourages widespread adoption of the framework to build safer, more resilient critical infrastructure. By prioritizing trust, transparency, and collaboration, this initiative aims to guide the responsible integration of AI into essential systems, ensuring they remain secure and effective as technology continues to evolve. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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AI Agent Rivalry

AI Agent Rivalry

Microsoft and Salesforce’s AI Agent Rivalry Heats Up The battle for dominance in the AI agent space has escalated, with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff intensifying his criticism of Microsoft’s AI solutions. Following remarks at Dreamforce 2024, Benioff took to X (formerly Twitter) to call out Microsoft for what he called “rebranding Copilot as ‘agents’ in panic mode.” The AI Agent rivalry winner may be determined not by flashy features but by delivering tangible, transformative outcomes for businesses navigating the complexities of AI adoption. AI Agent Rivalry. Benioff didn’t hold back, labeling Microsoft’s Copilot as “a flop”, citing issues like data leaks, inaccuracies, and requiring customers to build their own large language models (LLMs). In contrast, he touted Salesforce’s Agentforce as a solution that autonomously drives sales, service, marketing, analytics, and commerce without the complications he attributes to Microsoft’s offerings. Microsoft’s Copilot: A New UI for AI Microsoft recently unveiled new autonomous agent capabilities for Copilot Studio and Dynamics 365, positioning these agents as tools to enhance productivity across teams and functions. CEO Satya Nadella described Copilot as “the UI for AI” and emphasized its flexibility, allowing businesses to create, manage, and integrate agents seamlessly. Despite the fanfare, Benioff dismissed Copilot’s updates, likening it to “Clippy 2.0” and claiming it fails to deliver accuracy or transformational impact. Salesforce Expands Agentforce with Strategic Partnerships At Dreamforce 2024, Salesforce unveiled its Agentforce Partner Network, a global ecosystem featuring collaborators like AWS, Google Cloud, IBM, and Workday. The move aims to bolster the capabilities of Agentforce, Salesforce’s AI-driven platform that delivers tailored, autonomous business solutions. Agentforce allows businesses to deploy customizable agents without complex coding. With features like the Agent Builder, users can craft workflows and instructions in natural language, making the platform accessible to both technical and non-technical teams. Flexibility and Customization: Salesforce vs. Microsoft Both Salesforce and Microsoft emphasize AI’s transformative potential, but their approaches differ: Generative AI vs. Predictive AI Salesforce has doubled down on generative AI, with Einstein GPT producing personalized content using CRM data while also providing predictive analytics to forecast customer behavior and sales outcomes. Microsoft, on the other hand, combines generative and predictive AI across its ecosystem. Copilot not only generates content but also performs autonomous decision-making in Dynamics 365 and Azure, positioning itself as a comprehensive enterprise solution. The Rise of Multi-Agent AI Systems The competition between Microsoft and Salesforce reflects a broader trend in AI-driven automation. Companies like OpenAI are experimenting with frameworks like Swarm, which simplifies the creation of interconnected AI agents for tasks such as lead generation and marketing campaign development. Similarly, startups like DevRev are introducing conversational AI builders to design custom agents, offering enterprises up to 95% task accuracy without the need for coding. What Lies Ahead in the AI Agent Landscape? As Salesforce and Microsoft push the boundaries of AI integration, businesses are evaluating these tools for their flexibility, customization, and impact on operations. While Salesforce leads in CRM-focused AI, Microsoft’s integrated approach appeals to enterprises seeking cross-functional AI solutions. In the end, the winner may be determined not by flashy features but by delivering tangible, transformative outcomes for businesses navigating the complexities of AI adoption. AI Agent Rivalry. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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