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08Jan

A Revolution in Enterprise AI

Salesforce Unveils Agentforce 2.0: A Revolution in Enterprise AI Salesforce has launched Agentforce 2.0, a cutting-edge update poised to redefine how enterprises design, deploy, and manage AI-driven solutions. With a suite of innovative features, this upgrade emphasizes seamless collaboration, enhanced integration, and unprecedented flexibility in creating AI-powered workflows. Agentforce 2.0 focuses on three core advancements: headless agents for programmatic control, deep Slack integration for streamlined teamwork, and a revamped API-driven architecture that simplifies development and deployment. Core Highlights of Agentforce 2.0 1. Enhanced Integration Architecture Agentforce 2.0 introduces a sophisticated integration framework designed to streamline workflows and accelerate development. By leveraging MuleSoft for Flow, it provides 40 pre-built connectors for seamless integration with enterprise systems. At the heart of this architecture is the API Catalog, a centralized hub for discovering, managing, and optimizing APIs within Salesforce. The Topic Center simplifies deployment by embedding Agentforce metadata into API design workflows, minimizing manual configurations and reducing time-to-market. Key features of the API Catalog include: This API-first approach empowers DevOps teams to manage and optimize AI capabilities efficiently through a single interface. 2. Upgraded Atlas Reasoning Engine The Atlas Reasoning Engine takes enterprise AI capabilities to the next level, enabling smarter and more effective AI-driven operations. Key enhancements include: Preliminary testing shows a 33% improvement in response accuracy and a doubling of relevance in complex scenarios compared to previous models. The engine uniquely combines System 1 reasoning (fast, intuitive responses) with System 2 reasoning (deep analytical processing), setting a new benchmark for enterprise AI intelligence. 3. Headless Agents for Greater Control A game-changing feature of Agentforce 2.0 is the introduction of headless agents, which operate autonomously without requiring direct user interaction. Key capabilities include: This feature enables enterprises to build robust, autonomous workflows, making Agentforce 2.0 an indispensable tool for optimizing digital operations. 4. Deep Slack Integration Agentforce 2.0 seamlessly integrates AI with Slack, Salesforce’s collaboration platform, fostering real-time, AI-enhanced teamwork. Technical advancements include: By embedding AI agents directly into Slack, teams can break down silos, enabling smoother collaboration and faster decision-making across departments. 5. Data Cloud Integration Agentforce 2.0 leverages Salesforce’s Data Cloud to enhance data accessibility and intelligence. Key features include: This integration ensures that AI agents can provide real-time, actionable insights by tapping into a comprehensive, unified data ecosystem. Final Thoughts Agentforce 2.0 represents a transformative leap in enterprise AI, combining cutting-edge technologies like headless agents, deep Slack integration, and an advanced API-driven architecture. By empowering organizations to create intelligent, autonomous workflows, Agentforce 2.0 sets a new standard for AI innovation in the enterprise sector. With its ability to streamline collaboration, optimize operations, and unlock new levels of productivity, Agentforce 2.0 positions Salesforce as a leader in the evolving AI landscape, helping businesses stay ahead in the digital age. 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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January 8, 2025in Data, Enterprise, Mulesoft, Salesforce0 Comments
Standards in Healthcare Cybersecurity
21Dec

Deploying Large Language Models in Healthcare

Study Identifies Cost-Effective Strategies for Deploying Large Language Models in Healthcare Efficient deployment of large language models (LLMs) at scale in healthcare can streamline clinical workflows and reduce costs by up to 17 times without compromising reliability, according to a study published in NPJ Digital Medicine by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The research highlights the potential of LLMs to enhance clinical operations while addressing the financial and computational hurdles healthcare organizations face in scaling these technologies. To investigate solutions, the team evaluated 10 LLMs of varying sizes and capacities using real-world patient data. The models were tested on chained queries and increasingly complex clinical notes, with outputs assessed for accuracy, formatting quality, and adherence to clinical instructions. “Our study was driven by the need to identify practical ways to cut costs while maintaining performance, enabling health systems to confidently adopt LLMs at scale,” said Dr. Eyal Klang, director of the Generative AI Research Program at Icahn Mount Sinai. “We aimed to stress-test these models, evaluating their ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and identifying strategies to balance performance and affordability.” The team conducted over 300,000 experiments, finding that high-capacity models like Meta’s Llama-3-70B and GPT-4 Turbo 128k performed best, maintaining high accuracy and low failure rates. However, performance began to degrade as task volume and complexity increased, particularly beyond 50 tasks involving large prompts. The study further revealed that grouping tasks—such as identifying patients for preventive screenings, analyzing medication safety, and matching patients for clinical trials—enabled LLMs to handle up to 50 simultaneous tasks without significant accuracy loss. This strategy also led to dramatic cost savings, with API costs reduced by up to 17-fold, offering a pathway for health systems to save millions annually. “Understanding where these models reach their cognitive limits is critical for ensuring reliability and operational stability,” said Dr. Girish N. Nadkarni, co-senior author and director of The Charles Bronfman Institute of Personalized Medicine. “Our findings pave the way for the integration of generative AI in hospitals while accounting for real-world constraints.” Beyond cost efficiency, the study underscores the potential of LLMs to automate key tasks, conserve resources, and free up healthcare providers to focus more on patient care. “This research highlights how AI can transform healthcare operations. Grouping tasks not only cuts costs but also optimizes resources that can be redirected toward improving patient outcomes,” said Dr. David L. Reich, co-author and chief clinical officer of the Mount Sinai Health System. The research team plans to explore how LLMs perform in live clinical environments and assess emerging models to determine whether advancements in AI technology can expand their cognitive thresholds. 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 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 Alphabet Soup of Cloud Terminology As with any technology, the cloud brings its own alphabet soup of terms. This insight will hopefully help you navigate Read more

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December 21, 2024in Data, Generative AI, Technology0 Comments

Transitioning to Granular Case Categorization in Salesforce

Making Data Work: Transitioning to Granular Case Categorization in Salesforce As businesses grow and their reporting needs evolve, the demand for more granular data categorization becomes essential to maintaining clarity and driving decision-making. Salesforce’s Case Object, which traditionally uses Type and Sub-type fields to classify cases, may no longer suffice for organizations with increasingly complex reporting standards. To address this, a new approach is being implemented: introducing New Type, New Sub-type, and New Sub-sub-Type fields. These fields enable deeper categorization and allow organizations to align their data architecture with modern reporting demands. However, adopting these new fields presents challenges, especially for legacy systems that rely on the older fields. Here’s how organizations can navigate this transition seamlessly using Apex and custom metadata. The Challenge: Transitioning to New Fields The move toward granular categorization brings clear benefits, but it also introduces complexities: To ensure a smooth transition, organizations need a solution that automates field mapping while maintaining data consistency across both legacy and updated systems. The Solution: Apex Mapping with Custom Metadata By leveraging Apex and custom metadata, organizations can create an automated system to map old field values (Type and Sub-type) to the new fields (New Type, New Sub-type, and New Sub-sub-Type). Here’s how the mapping process works: The Benefits of Apex Mapping The Technical Process Real-World Impact Final Thoughts In today’s data-driven world, evolving reporting standards demand more precise data categorization. Transitioning from Type and Sub-type fields to New Type, New Sub-type, and New Sub-sub-Type fields ensures your organization can meet modern reporting needs. By implementing Apex mapping with custom metadata, you can automate the transition, maintain legacy compatibility, and unlock the full potential of granular reporting. While the shift requires planning and effort, the long-term benefits of improved accuracy, efficiency, and decision-making make it an invaluable step for any organization. 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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December 20, 2024in Data0 Comments
Meta Joins the Race to Reinvent Search with AI
18Dec

Meta Joins the Race to Reinvent Search with AI

Meta Joins the Race to Reinvent Search with AI Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is stepping into the evolving AI-driven search landscape. As vendors increasingly embrace generative AI to transform search experiences, Meta aims to challenge Google’s dominance in this space. The company is reportedly developing an AI-powered search engine designed to provide conversational, AI-generated summaries of recent events and news. These summaries would be delivered via Meta’s AI chatbot, supported by a multiyear partnership with Reuters for real-time news insights, according to The Information. AI Search: A Growing Opportunity The push comes as generative AI reshapes search technology across the industry. Google, the long-standing leader, has integrated AI features such as AI Overviews into its search platform, offering users summarized search results, product comparisons, and more. This feature, now available in over 100 countries as of October 2024, signals a shift in traditional search strategies. Similarly, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has been exploring its own AI search model, SearchGPT, and forging partnerships with media organizations like the Associated Press and Hearst. However, OpenAI faces legal challenges, such as a lawsuit from The New York Times over alleged copyright infringement. Meta’s entry into AI-powered search aligns with a broader trend among tech giants. “It makes sense for Meta to explore this,” said Mark Beccue, an analyst with TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group. He noted that Meta’s approach seems more targeted at consumer engagement than enterprise solutions, particularly appealing to younger audiences who are shifting away from traditional search behaviors. Shifting User Preferences Generational changes in search habits are creating opportunities for new players in the market. Younger users, particularly Gen Z and Gen Alpha, are increasingly turning to platforms like TikTok for lifestyle advice and Amazon for product recommendations, bypassing traditional search engines like Google. “Recent studies show younger generations are no longer using ‘Google’ as a verb,” said Lisa Martin, an analyst with the Futurum Group. “This opens the playing field for competitors like Meta and OpenAI.” Forrester Research corroborates this trend, noting a diversification in search behaviors. “ChatGPT’s popularity has accelerated this shift,” said Nikhil Lai, a Forrester analyst. He added that these changes could challenge Google’s search ad market, with its dominance potentially waning in the years ahead. Meta’s AI Search Potential Meta’s foray into AI search offers an opportunity to enhance user experiences and deepen engagement. Rather than pushing news content into users’ feeds—an approach that has drawn criticism—AI-driven search could empower users to decide what content they see and when they see it. “If implemented thoughtfully, it could transform the user experience and give users more control,” said Martin. This approach could also boost engagement by keeping users within Meta’s ecosystem. The Race for Revenue and Trust While AI-powered search is expected to increase engagement, monetization strategies remain uncertain. Google has yet to monetize its AI Overviews, and OpenAI’s plans for SearchGPT remain unclear. Other vendors, like Perplexity AI, are experimenting with models such as sponsored questions instead of traditional results. Trust remains a critical factor in the evolving search landscape. “Google is still seen as more trustworthy,” Lai noted, with users often returning to Google to verify AI-generated information. Despite the competition, the conversational AI search market lacks a definitive leader. “Google dominated traditional search, but the race for conversational search is far more open-ended,” Lai concluded. Meta’s entry into this competitive space underscores the ongoing evolution of search technology, setting the stage for a reshaped digital landscape driven by AI innovation. 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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December 18, 2024in Enterprise, Generative AI, Google, Laws, Salesforce, Technology0 Comments
Transforming the Role of Data Science Teams
15Dec

Transforming the Role of Data Science Teams

GenAI: Transforming the Role of Data Science Teams Challenges, Opportunities, and the Evolving Responsibilities of Data Scientists Generative AI (GenAI) is revolutionizing the AI landscape, offering faster development cycles, reduced technical overhead, and enabling groundbreaking use cases that once seemed unattainable. However, it also introduces new challenges, including the risks of hallucinations and reliance on third-party APIs. For Data Scientists and Machine Learning (ML) teams, this shift directly impacts their roles. GenAI-driven projects, often powered by external providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, or Meta, blur traditional lines. AI solutions are increasingly accessible to non-technical teams, but this accessibility raises fundamental questions about the role and responsibilities of data science teams in ensuring effective, ethical, and future-proof AI systems. Let’s explore how this evolution is reshaping the field. Expanding Possibilities Without Losing Focus While GenAI unlocks opportunities to solve a broader range of challenges, not every problem warrants an AI solution. Data Scientists remain vital in assessing when and where AI is appropriate, selecting the right approaches—whether GenAI, traditional ML, or hybrid solutions—and designing reliable systems. Although GenAI broadens the toolkit, two factors shape its application: For example, incorporating features that enable user oversight of AI outputs may prove more strategic than attempting full automation with extensive fine-tuning. Differentiation will not come from simply using LLMs, which are widely accessible, but from the unique value and functionality they enable. Traditional ML Is Far from Dead—It’s Evolving with GenAI While GenAI is transformative, traditional ML continues to play a critical role. Many use cases, especially those unrelated to text or images, are best addressed with ML. GenAI often complements traditional ML, enabling faster prototyping, enhanced experimentation, and hybrid systems that blend the strengths of both approaches. For instance, traditional ML workflows—requiring extensive data preparation, training, and maintenance—contrast with GenAI’s simplified process: prompt engineering, offline evaluation, and API integration. This allows rapid proof of concept for new ideas. Once proven, teams can refine solutions using traditional ML to optimize costs or latency, or transition to Small Language Models (SMLs) for greater control and performance. Hybrid systems are increasingly common. For example, DoorDash combines LLMs with ML models for product classification. LLMs handle cases the ML model cannot classify confidently, retraining the ML system with new insights—a powerful feedback loop. GenAI Solves New Problems—But Still Needs Expertise The AI landscape is shifting from bespoke in-house models to fewer, large multi-task models provided by external vendors. While this simplifies some aspects of AI implementation, it requires teams to remain vigilant about GenAI’s probabilistic nature and inherent risks. Key challenges unique to GenAI include: Data Scientists must ensure robust evaluations, including statistical and model-based metrics, before deployment. Monitoring tools like Datadog now offer LLM-specific observability, enabling teams to track system performance in real-world environments. Teams must also address ethical concerns, applying frameworks like ComplAI to benchmark models and incorporating guardrails to align outputs with organizational and societal values. Building AI Literacy Across Organizations AI literacy is becoming a critical competency for organizations. Beyond technical implementation, competitive advantage now depends on how effectively the entire workforce understands and leverages AI. Data Scientists are uniquely positioned to champion this literacy by leading initiatives such as internal training, workshops, and hackathons. These efforts can: The New Role of Data Scientists: A Strategic Pivot The role of Data Scientists is not diminishing but evolving. Their expertise remains essential to ensure AI solutions are reliable, ethical, and impactful. Key responsibilities now include: By adapting to this new landscape, Data Scientists will continue to play a pivotal role in guiding organizations to harness AI effectively and responsibly. GenAI is not replacing them; it’s expanding their impact. 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 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 Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more

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December 15, 2024in Data, Generative AI0 Comments
Clippy-gate
10Dec

Clippy-gate

Clippy-gate: Why Salesforce vs. Microsoft is More Than a Marketing Spat Salesforce and Microsoft are clashing once again, this time over AI and intelligent agents. What started as a seemingly lighthearted joke by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff at Dreamforce—mocking Microsoft’s Copilot as a “Clippy 2.0″—has escalated into a significant dispute. This confrontation extends beyond the typical vendor rivalry, touching on enterprise AI’s future and its implications for businesses. A History of Rivalry Salesforce and Microsoft have a long history of competition. Past disputes included lawsuits and marketing stunts, such as Microsoft’s ill-fated 2010 Dreamforce gimmick involving a “defecting” Salesforce customer. While the two companies briefly found common ground under Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, this détente dissolved amidst antitrust challenges over Microsoft’s LinkedIn acquisition and an aborted attempt to acquire Salesforce. Benioff has since reverted to openly criticizing Microsoft. The latest round of hostilities centers on Microsoft’s announcement of ten AI agents for Dynamics 365, coinciding with the release of Salesforce’s Agentforce. Benioff has doubled down, accusing Microsoft of overhyping Copilot and failing to meet enterprise AI standards. Benioff’s Allegations Benioff’s critiques have been relentless. He has accused Microsoft of misleading customers about AI capabilities, claiming that Copilot “spews data all over the floor” and lacks the security, metadata, and integration necessary for enterprise use. On social media, he dismissed Copilot as “panic mode” rebranding, contrasting it with Agentforce, which he describes as a transformative platform integrated with enterprise data and workflows. Microsoft’s Position Microsoft has largely refrained from engaging directly. Nadella, during a European AI tour, promoted Copilot as “the UI for AI,” positioning it as the interface to a broader AI ecosystem. However, his remarks avoided addressing Benioff’s criticisms, leaving Salesforce’s claims unanswered. Implications for Enterprise AI This debate highlights critical issues for businesses adopting AI technologies. While Salesforce has emphasized pragmatism, acknowledging AI’s uncertainties, Microsoft’s perceived lack of response risks leaving questions unanswered. The stakes are high, with both companies vying for leadership in a rapidly evolving market. What’s Next? How Microsoft responds—or doesn’t—will shape this rivalry’s trajectory. A direct rebuttal could clarify its AI vision, but staying silent risks ceding thought leadership to Salesforce. For businesses navigating the complexities of enterprise AI, understanding these dynamics is essential to making informed decisions. As the AI landscape unfolds, this conflict underscores the competitive importance of securing trust and demonstrating actionable value. For now, the war of words is as much about shaping perceptions as it is about delivering 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 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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December 10, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Laws, Salesforce0 Comments
salesforce agentforce ai powered agentic agents
09Dec

Agentforce AI Transforming the Workplace

AI is Transforming the WorkplaceArtificial intelligence is revolutionizing how businesses operate. By driving productivity, efficiency, and scalability, AI agents are unlocking new possibilities in the modern business landscape. However, achieving AI’s full potential requires navigating a complex web of data sources, workflows, and legacy systems. Enter Agentforce, a complete AI system for enterprises unveiled at Dreamforce. This agentic platform integrates data, automation, and human collaboration into a unified solution, enabling organizations to scale autonomous AI agents across their operations using low-code tools. Here are five key takeaways from Dreamforce to help organizations leverage AI agents to transform business operations and software development. 1. An Agentic Platform is Crucial for Building Exceptional AI Agents “What we build and how we build it is changing dramatically in this world of AI.”— Alice Steinglass, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Salesforce Platform CEOs are increasingly prioritizing AI, recognizing its potential to solve complex problems and enhance experiences for employees, partners, and customers. However, many teams face significant challenges in meeting AI demands safely and effectively. Issues such as disconnected data, IT backlogs, tech debt, and limited resources create a gap between AI ambition and execution. Agentforce addresses these challenges by providing an integrated platform that connects data, AI, automation, and humans. During the Platform keynote, a live demo showcased how an Agentforce agent streamlined casting for a fictional sports reality TV show, “Hooping with the Stars.” The agent seamlessly integrated audition videos, casting data, and applicant details, enabling faster, more informed decisions. This demo highlighted the potential of an agentic platform to turn challenges into opportunities, empowering organizations to build secure, dynamic AI agents. 2. Low-Code Tools Make AI Agents Accessible to Everyone “The true value is about getting work done. Agents being able to take action is what empowers employees and drives customer success.”— Claire Cheng, Vice President of Software Engineering AI agents surpass traditional chatbots by not only answering questions but also making decisions and taking actions. This capability is transforming customer and employee experiences by eliminating repetitive tasks and enabling teams to focus on higher-value activities. For example, Wiley, a global leader in education and research, deployed Agentforce agents to handle routine inquiries. Within weeks, these agents improved case resolution rates by over 40%, outperforming the company’s previous chatbot solution. Despite their sophistication, Agentforce agents are easy to build. With no-code and low-code tools like Agent Builder and Prompt Builder, businesses can create agents tailored to their unique needs, enabling even non-technical users to innovate without technical headaches. 3. Unified Data Enhances Accuracy and Intelligence of AI Agents “By analyzing unstructured data, you can uncover deeper patterns and sentiments that structured data alone might miss, leading to better personalization and decision-making.”— Taraneh Whitefield, Senior Director, Product Marketing Data is the foundation of effective AI strategies. Salesforce’s Data Cloud has become a leader in addressing data challenges by eliminating silos and simplifying data integration. This year’s introduction of the Data Cloud Vector Database marked a significant milestone. The platform now enables the integration of unstructured data — such as PDFs, videos, and audio files — alongside structured data, offering a complete 360-degree view of customers. For example, Mascoma Bank leveraged Data Cloud to consolidate data from 66 legacy systems. This streamlined sales workflows and improved personalized recommendations, reducing manual data handling by 45 minutes per loan application. 4. API-Led Integration is Essential for Scalable AI Systems “The world of AI is truly the world of APIs.”— Param Kahlon, EVP/GM, Automation & Integration, Salesforce The success of AI depends on seamless integration. Organizations often manage hundreds of applications with unique update schedules and security requirements, making integration a critical challenge. MuleSoft’s API-led approach provides a solution, allowing organizations to unlock data from disparate systems. With the introduction of MuleSoft Topic Center, developers can now package APIs and metadata into actionable “Topics” for Agentforce agents. This innovation simplifies building agents that can interact with enterprise systems, as demonstrated in a live demo featuring Aston Martin’s VIP vehicle customization experience. 5. Better Decision-Making Depends on Empowering People with the Right Data “I’m free to focus on the things that really, really matter to me.”— Anya A’Hearn, Hall of Fame Tableau Visionary Efficient decision-making relies on fast access to actionable insights. Tools like Tableau Einstein, Tableau Pulse, and Tableau Agent empower users to interact with data through natural language queries. For instance, with Tableau Agent, users can ask questions in plain language, and the agent will create visualizations instantly. Tasks that once took hours now take minutes, freeing up time for more strategic decision-making. Empowering Autonomous Agents with Data, AI, and Automation The future of AI is here, and it hinges on the seamless integration of data, automation, and human expertise. Agentforce, alongside Salesforce Platform, Data Cloud, MuleSoft, and Tableau, is equipping organizations with the tools to harness AI’s full potential — whether it’s 24/7 customer service, automated workflows, or real-time data visualization. Discover how Agentforce can revolutionize your business 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 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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December 9, 2024in Artificial Intelligence, Data, Enterprise, Mulesoft, Salesforce
agentforce testing center
08Dec

Agentforce Testing Center

Salesforce has launched the Agentforce Testing Center, a groundbreaking tool for testing, deploying, and managing AI agents at scale. This innovative platform uses synthetically generated data to ensure AI agents perform accurate actions and deliver precise responses while providing comprehensive monitoring of usage and feedback. A New Era of AI Testing The Agentforce Testing Center operates within Salesforce’s enterprise-grade platform, integrated seamlessly with Data Cloud. It introduces no-code tools that allow organizations to test AI agents securely in sandbox environments, ensuring minimal risk to live production systems. By enabling robust testing and optimization, this tool helps businesses confidently deploy AI agents tailored to their needs. According to Adam Evans, EVP and GM for the Salesforce AI Platform, the Agentforce Testing Center is a critical tool for modern enterprises: “Agentforce is helping businesses create a limitless workforce. CIOs need tools for testing and monitoring agentic systems. This offering marks the next evolution of lifecycle management, enabling businesses to deploy trusted AI agents in a secure, repeatable way.” Key Capabilities of the Agentforce Testing Center Industry Implications Keith Kirkpatrick, Research Director at The Futurum Group, emphasized the importance of this offering: “To build trust in AI, businesses need robust tools to pressure test autonomous agents. Salesforce’s Testing Center delivers this capability, ensuring AI agents can reason, retrieve data, and adapt effectively.” Enhancing AI Agent Strategies The Agentforce Testing Center’s integration with Salesforce tools like DevOps Center and Change Sets further simplifies deployment workflows. Features like User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and real-time alerts in the Digital Wallet give teams deeper control and visibility into AI performance, ensuring business readiness before live deployment. As Salesforce continues to invest in AI innovation, including recent acquisitions to enhance Data Cloud security, the Agentforce Testing Center positions the CRM leader as a pioneer in responsible and scalable AI deployment. This offering exemplifies how businesses can create a “limitless workforce” while maintaining trust, transparency, and efficiency in AI operations. 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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December 8, 2024in Agentforce Platform, Data, Enterprise, Salesforce
computer vision models
05Dec

Computer Vision Models

Introduction to Visual Language Models (VLMs): The Future of Computer Vision Achieving a 28% Boost in Multimodal Image Search Accuracy with VLMs Until recently, artificial intelligence models were narrowly focused—either excelling in understanding text or interpreting images, but rarely both. This siloed approach limited their potential to process and connect different types of data. The development of general-purpose language models, like GPTs, marked a significant leap forward. These models transitioned AI from task-specific systems to powerful, versatile tools capable of handling a wide range of language-driven tasks. Yet, despite their advancements, language models and computer vision systems evolved separately, like having the ability to hear without seeing—or vice versa. Visual Language Models (VLMs) bridge this gap, combining the capabilities of language and vision to create multimodal systems. In this article, we’ll explore VLMs’ architecture, training methods, challenges, and transformative potential in fields like image search. We’ll also examine how implementing VLMs revolutionized an AI-powered search engine. What Are Visual Language Models (VLMs)? VLMs represent the next step in the evolution of AI: multimodal models capable of processing multiple data types, including text, images, audio, and video. Why Multimodal Models? The rise of general-purpose approaches has outpaced narrow, specialized systems in recent years. Here’s why: At their core, VLMs receive input in the form of images and text (called “instructs”) and produce textual responses. Their range of applications includes image classification, description, interpretation, and more. For example: These tasks showcase VLMs’ ability to tackle a variety of challenges, including zero-shot and one-shot scenarios, where minimal prior training is required. How Do VLMs Work? Core Components VLMs typically consist of three main components: Workflow Adapters: The Key to Multimodality Adapters facilitate interaction between the image encoder and LLM. There are two primary types: Training VLMs Pre-Training VLMs are built on pre-trained LLMs and image encoders. Pre-training focuses on linking text and image modalities, as well as embedding world knowledge from visual data. Three types of data are used: Alignment Alignment fine-tunes VLMs for high-quality responses. This involves: Quality Evaluation Evaluating VLM performance involves: Revolutionizing Image Search with VLMs Incorporating VLMs into search engines transforms user experience by integrating text and image inputs. Previous Pipeline VLM-Powered Pipeline With VLMs, image and text inputs are processed together, creating a streamlined, accurate system that outperforms traditional pipelines by 28%. Conclusion Visual Language Models are a game-changer for AI, breaking down barriers between language and vision. From multimodal search engines to advanced problem-solving, VLMs unlock new possibilities in computer vision and beyond. The future of AI is multimodal—and VLMs are leading the way. 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 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 Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more

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December 5, 2024in Artificial Intelligence, Data, Technology
Salesforce Experience Cloud
02Dec

Empowering Digital Experiences

Salesforce Experience Cloud: Empowering Digital Experiences Salesforce Experience Cloud is a robust digital experience platform that enables businesses to create beautifully designed, CRM-powered online sites. Previously known as Community Cloud, the rebranding reflects its versatility in supporting a wide range of connected digital experiences. What is an Experience Cloud Site? An Experience Cloud site serves as an online hub to connect with customers, foster collaboration, and streamline business processes. These sites are customizable through Experience Builder, which allows users to design visually compelling and functional spaces based on their unique needs. Experience Builder SitesFormerly called Lightning Communities, Experience Builder sites are template-based and built on one of two frameworks: Introducing Lightning Web Runtime (LWR) LWR is the core framework powering modern Experience Cloud sites. It leverages Lightning Web Components (LWC) for enhanced performance, scalability, and customizability. Key advantages of LWR include: New LWR-Based Experience Cloud Templates The latest Experience Cloud templates are built exclusively on Lightning Web Components, making them faster and more efficient than Aura-based alternatives. The templates are designed for customers using Salesforce CMS and feature: Page Layouts and Slots Experience Cloud enables dynamic page structuring with: Slots play a crucial role in defining placeholders for content or markup. Metadata configuration allows these layouts to be integrated seamlessly into the Experience Cloud. CSS and Styling in Experience Cloud In Experience Cloud, Synthetic Shadow DOM replaces the native Shadow DOM. This allows global CSS to be applied across web components, ensuring design consistency. For example, custom buttons inherit background colors directly from the site theme, regardless of where they’re used. Navigation Options Experience Cloud sites support two types of navigation: For more advanced customization, Salesforce provides access to open-source codebases, such as the LWR Demo Agent site available on GitHub. Future-Ready Digital Experiences By leveraging the latest advancements in Lightning Web Components and the flexibility of LWR, Salesforce Experience Cloud empowers organizations to build connected, fast, and beautifully designed digital experiences tailored to their specific needs. Whether you’re enhancing customer engagement, building AI-enabled workflows, or streamlining collaboration, Experience Cloud serves as a powerful foundation for success. 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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December 2, 2024in Data, Mulesoft, Salesforce, Salesforce Experience Cloud
Salesforce Agentforce Details
29Nov

Salesforce Agentforce Details

Not Just Another Insight on Salesforce Agentforce This isn’t your typical rundown of Salesforce Agentforce—the AI innovation everyone’s buzzing about. Instead of merely explaining what it is and calling it a day, we’re diving straight into what matters most: how it can transform operations for nonprofits and educational organizations. If you’re in these sectors and are curious about leveraging Agentforce to drive efficiency, deepen engagement, and scale impact, you’re in the right place. What is Salesforce Agentforce? Introduced at Dreamforce 2024, Salesforce Agentforce is an AI-driven solution within Service Cloud, designed to streamline operations using autonomous, intelligent agents. With no-code setup and pre-built templates, organizations can deploy AI agents tailored to specific industries, like banking, healthcare, or retail. These agents assist in customer interactions, case routing, meeting scheduling, and real-time data gathering. They don’t just automate tasks—they enhance processes by making informed decisions powered by Salesforce’s Customer 360 metadata. Inside Agentforce’s AI-Driven Core Agentforce integrates several cutting-edge tools: For example, you can define an agent’s role with natural language prompts and specify the tasks it will handle, such as donor outreach or event management. Why Nonprofits & Educational Institutions Should Care Agentforce isn’t just for Fortune 500 companies—it’s equally transformative for mission-driven organizations. From automating administrative tasks to delivering personalized experiences, here’s how Agentforce empowers nonprofits and educational institutions: Six Agentforce Use Cases Tailored for Nonprofits & Education To inspire your Agentforce journey, here are six impactful use cases: 1. Automating Volunteer Onboarding Streamline volunteer engagement by automating training resources, scheduling, and shift assignments. Agents can even notify backup volunteers in case of last-minute cancellations. 2. Assessing Student Knowledge Enable adaptive learning by tailoring modules based on performance data. AI agents can identify gaps in knowledge and recommend resources or interventions for students. 3. Aligning Investors with Startups For nonprofits fostering innovation, Agentforce matches investors with startups aligned to their goals, automating onboarding and facilitating collaboration. 4. Coordinating Events & Fundraisers From ticketing and donation tracking to live Q&A sessions, Agentforce simplifies event management while capturing valuable engagement data for future use. 5. Supporting Student Admissions Automate admissions processes by routing inquiries, sending personalized reminders, and tracking application progress. This ensures no step is missed during peak enrollment cycles. 6. Matching Donations to Needs For organizations redistributing goods or funds, Agentforce matches donations to recipients efficiently, summarizing opportunities and streamlining logistics. Ready to Get Started? Agentforce marks a new era of AI-driven operations, empowering nonprofits and educators to maximize impact. With its versatility and ease of use, you can create intelligent workflows that align with your mission. Feeling overwhelmed by where to begin? Our team at Advanced Communities can help you navigate Agentforce and tailor it to your unique needs. Let’s take your organization’s impact to the next level. 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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November 29, 2024in Data
Deploy Metadata to Salesforce Orgs
23Nov

Deploy Metadata to Salesforce Orgs

How to Deploy Metadata to Salesforce Orgs: A Step-by-Step Guide Deploying metadata effectively is critical for building Salesforce orgs that align with your business goals. However, deployment processes often hit roadblocks due to missed dependencies, overwritten changes, or failed deployments at the end of development cycles. Deploy Metadata to Salesforce Orgs. As your team grows and business requirements become more complex, finding a deployment solution that works for everyone may feel overwhelming. While Salesforce’s clicks-not-code philosophy simplifies development, deployments can create bottlenecks if your process isn’t robust. Whether you’re working with custom objects, Flows, or Apex code, this guide will help you streamline your metadata deployments for the whole team. Understanding Salesforce Metadata Deployment Options Salesforce offers several methods for deploying metadata, most of which leverage the Metadata API. This API facilitates metadata transfers between Salesforce orgs or between orgs and version control systems like Git. Although most metadata types are supported by the API, a few exceptions exist. Fortunately, these unsupported types are rarely critical, ensuring the API remains a dependable foundation for most deployment needs. Change Sets: The Starting Point Salesforce’s change sets are often the default tool for new users. These provide a clicks-not-code approach and are easy to enable within the Salesforce UI. However, their limitations can hinder long-term scalability and DevOps maturity. Using Change Sets Limitations of Change Sets For teams seeking a scalable deployment solution, change sets often fall short. DevOps Center: Salesforce’s Modern Alternative Salesforce’s DevOps Center offers an improved approach to metadata deployments, especially for teams adopting collaborative and source-driven development workflows. Benefits of DevOps Center Limitations of DevOps Center While DevOps Center is a significant improvement over change sets, it may not fully meet the needs of growing teams striving for DevOps maturity. Salesforce CLI: A Developer-Focused Tool For teams with development expertise, Salesforce’s Command Line Interface (CLI) enables metadata deployments through scripting. As part of Salesforce DX, the CLI facilitates package-based development and automation. Key Advantages Challenges Gearset: A Complete Metadata Deployment Solution For teams seeking a streamlined, all-in-one deployment solution, Gearset provides the ideal balance of simplicity, collaboration, and DevOps maturity. Why Choose Gearset? How to Deploy Metadata with Gearset: Step-by-Step Deploy with Confidence Whether you’re working with simple change sets or advanced DevOps processes, the right tools can transform your Salesforce deployments. Gearset ensures seamless, reliable metadata transfers with a 99% deployment success rate—empowering teams to focus on innovation rather than troubleshooting. Ready to simplify your metadata deployments? Start your free trial of Gearset today and experience hassle-free releases! Like1 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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November 23, 2024in Data
Alation Strengthens Data Cloud
20Nov

Alation Anywhere

Alation Anywhere for Google Chrome: A Streamlined Approach to Analysis Alation’s browser-based extension, Alation Anywhere for Google Chrome, integrates its tools directly into the user’s browser to reduce the inefficiencies caused by toggling between applications. This innovation enhances workflow efficiency and accelerates access to data-driven insights, bringing the full power of Alation’s Data Intelligence Platform into the daily flow of work. Tackling Context-Switching with Alation Anywhere A 2022 Harvard Business Review study revealed that Fortune 500 employees toggle between applications 1,200 times per day, resulting in four hours of weekly lost productivity and five weeks of annual time wasted. By embedding Alation’s capabilities into Chrome, users can seamlessly interact with curated and governed data without leaving their current workflows. According to Matt Aslett, analyst at Ventana Research, “The primary goal of capabilities like Alation Anywhere is to accelerate data-driven decision-making. By embedding data catalog functionality within productivity tools, it reduces the delays caused by switching contexts and facilitates quicker access to insights.” Enhanced Data Discovery in the Browser The popularity of web-based applications makes Chrome the ideal platform for extending Alation’s tools. Stewart Bond, analyst at IDC, emphasizes that “most modern applications are accessed via the browser. Alation Anywhere for Chrome eliminates the need to toggle between browser tabs, saving users time and boosting productivity.” Beyond efficiency, embedding analytics into frequently used tools increases the likelihood of data-driven decision-making. By integrating Alation’s insights directly into the browser, users can make informed decisions in real-time, with minimal disruptions. Key Features of Alation Anywhere for Google Chrome The Chrome extension introduces several tools to streamline data discovery and management: These features reflect Alation’s strategy of extending data catalog capabilities to the tools users rely on most, facilitating quicker and more accurate insights. Meeting Modern Data Demands As enterprises increasingly develop AI models and applications, the need for accessible, real-time data is growing. Alation’s vice president of product management, Diby Malakar, highlighted the role of user feedback in driving innovations like the Chrome extension. “Embedding analytics and data management directly into everyday tools is essential for streamlining workflows and reducing friction,” said Malakar. “Our goal is to ensure data intelligence is always available where it drives the most value.” Differentiation and Future Focus While Alation’s browser-based extension addresses a critical need, competitors such as Collibra, Informatica, and Qlik also offer similar capabilities. To stand out, Alation must build on unique initiatives like its new AI governance suite, which addresses emerging challenges in enterprise AI adoption. According to Malakar, Alation will continue developing features that enable both technical and non-technical users to discover and curate trusted data. This aligns with growing enterprise priorities, including real-time analytics and AI model development. “As AI and data initiatives become central to enterprises, the demand for accessible, reliable data will only increase,” Malakar noted. “Alation is committed to evolving our platform to meet these needs … backed by the data they trust.” Alation Anywhere for Google Chrome exemplifies the company’s commitment to improving access to governed data while staying attuned to user workflows and the evolving data 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 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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November 20, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Google, Salesforce, Snowflake
Training Your Own AI Model
19Nov

Training Your Own AI Model May Not Win Customers – But Leveraging Data Will

While AI plays a crucial role in delivering personalized customer experiences, the real game-changer lies in data connectivity. It’s not about having the flashiest AI model but about how data is managed across every interaction. Imagine a global retail brand with a network of physical stores, an e-commerce site, and active social media. An in-store shopper “likes” a product on Instagram, triggering an autonomous agent to send a personalized discount code. This leads them to a tailored shopping page based on their preferences, with items in their size, style, and budget. After the purchase, the agent follows up to ensure satisfaction and offers discounts on complementary items, creating a VIP-like experience. While AI can automate these touchpoints, the real enabler is a robust data platform that brings each data point into a cohesive, connected system. Without this, AI’s effectiveness is limited; Gartner predicts that 30% of generative AI projects will be abandoned by 2025 due to poor data quality. Why Data – Not a Custom AI Model – Drives Results Many companies think they need a custom-trained language model (LLM) to achieve superior customer insights. However, training an LLM is costly, requires specialized expertise, and lacks built-in permission controls. And because LLMs require constant updates to stay relevant, it’s a significant commitment with diminishing returns. Instead, a more practical approach is to integrate a pre-trained LLM with a data platform that aggregates data from diverse systems in real time. By providing AI with current, connected data, companies can enhance accuracy, identify trends, and respond to customer needs quickly. The Power of Integrated Data Platforms Consider the shopper who “liked” a social media post and then interacted with an autonomous agent. Alone, these interactions may not signify much, but together they reveal a clear buying intent. Scaling this approach allows brands to spot valuable opportunities faster. Autonomous agents can help sales teams prioritize prospects, resolve service cases, and drive sales – all in real time. This isn’t limited to retail. In healthcare, agents can streamline patient benefits verification, summarize insurance details, and assist with pharmacy coverage. From finance to manufacturing, data-enabled AI agents have endless applications. Metadata: The Secret to Seamless AI For AI to deliver tailored, high-value interactions, it needs organized data – and metadata is key. By categorizing and tagging data, metadata enables AI to find the right information, whether drafting a customer message or identifying top sales prospects. A unified data platform that harmonizes data and metadata yields sharper predictions and more personalized outputs, outperforming siloed data systems. Data-Driven Precision in Customer Experience An effective data platform is the backbone of an agile, customer-centric business, making AI far more than guesswork. By using data to understand customer needs in real time, businesses can deliver targeted, timely experiences that build loyalty and growth. A comprehensive data strategy is essential to unlocking AI’s potential. This data strategy guide provides best practices for aligning data with business goals, unearthing insights, and enhancing customer engagement. A unified data platform connects your organization around the customer – transforming a simple “like” into a sale, and a sale into loyalty. Without it, your AI is just guessing. 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 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 Alphabet Soup of Cloud Terminology As with any technology, the cloud brings its own alphabet soup of terms. This insight will hopefully help you navigate Read more

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November 19, 2024in Data, Generative AI

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