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10Feb

AI and Related Tools Boost Holiday Sales

AI Drives Holiday Sales in 2024: A Record-Breaking Shopping Season with Rising Returns Artificial intelligence (AI) played a transformative role in shaping the 2024 holiday shopping season, with Salesforce reporting that AI-powered tools influenced $229 billion, or 19%, of global online sales. Based on data from 1.5 billion global shoppers and 1.6 trillion page views, AI tools such as product recommendations, targeted promotions, and customer service significantly boosted sales, marking a 6% year-over-year increase in engagement. Generative AI features, including conversational agents, saw a 25% surge in usage during the holiday period compared to earlier months, further highlighting their role in shaping consumer behavior. Mobile commerce amplified AI’s influence, with nearly 70% of global online sales being placed via smartphones. On Christmas Day alone, mobile orders accounted for 79% of transactions, showcasing the shift toward mobile-first shopping. “Retailers who have embraced AI and conversational agents are already reaping the benefits, but these tools will become even more critical in the new year as retailers aim to minimize revenue losses from returns and reengage with shoppers,” said Caila Schwartz, Salesforce’s Director of Consumer Insights. Record-Breaking Sales and Rising Returns Online sales hit .2 trillion globally and 2 billion in the U.S. during the holiday season, but returns surged to $122 billion globally—a 28% increase compared to 2023. Salesforce attributed this spike to evolving shopping habits like bracketing (buying multiple sizes to ensure fit) and try-on hauls (bulk purchasing for social media content), which have become increasingly common. The surge in returns presents a challenge to retailers, potentially eroding profit margins. To address this, many are turning to AI-powered solutions for streamlining returns processes. According to Salesforce, 75% of U.S. shoppers expressed interest in using AI agents for returns, with one-third showing strong enthusiasm for such tools. The Role of AI in Enhancing the Holiday Shopping Experience AI-powered chatbots saw a 42% year-over-year increase in usage during the holiday season, supporting customers with purchases, returns, and product inquiries. These conversational agents, combined with AI-driven loyalty programs and targeted promotions, were instrumental in engaging customers and increasing conversion rates. AI’s influence extended to social commerce, with platforms like TikTok Shop and Instagram driving 20% of global holiday sales. Personalized recommendations and advertisements, powered by AI algorithms, significantly boosted social media referral traffic, which grew by 8% year-over-year. Mobile Commerce and AI Synergy Mobile devices were the dominant force in holiday shopping, generating 2 billion in global online sales and 5 billion in the U.S. Orders placed via smartphones peaked on Christmas Day, with mobile accounting for 79% of all transactions. This mobile-first trend highlights the growing importance of integrating AI into mobile commerce to enhance the shopping experience. AI Integration Expands Across Retail Operations In the UK, retailers are increasingly leveraging AI to optimize operations and improve personalization. A study by IMRG and Scurri revealed that 57% of UK online retailers used generative AI for content creation in 2024, while 31% implemented AI-informed product search tools. By 2025, 75% of UK retailers plan to adopt AI for marketing efforts, and 42% aim to use AI-powered product information management systems to streamline processes. Tesco, for example, uses AI to analyze Clubcard data, enabling tailored product recommendations, healthier purchasing choices, and waste reduction. Meanwhile, Must Have Ideas, a homeware retailer, has launched an AI-driven TV shopping channel powered by proprietary software, Spark, which automates programming schedules based on real-time stock levels and market trends. Looking Ahead The 2024 holiday season underscored the transformative potential of AI in retail. While AI-powered tools drove record sales and engagement, the rise in returns presents a challenge that retailers must address to protect their bottom line. As AI continues to evolve, its role in shaping consumer behavior, streamlining operations, and enhancing customer experiences will become even more integral in the retail landscape. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

February 10, 2025in AI Tools, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Generative AI, Salesforce0 Comments

06Feb

Decision Domain Management

Roger’s first week in the office felt like a wilder than 8 second ride on a raging rodeo bull. Armed with top-notch academic achievements, he hoped to breeze through operational routines and impress his new managers. What he didn’t expect was to land in a whirlwind of half-documented processes, half-baked ideas, and near-constant firefighting. While the organization had detailed SOPs for simple, routine tasks—approving invoices, updating customer records, and shipping standard orders—Roger quickly realized that behind the structured facade, there was a deeper level of uncertainty. Every day, he heard colleagues discuss “strategic pivots” or “risky product bets.” There were whispers about AI-based initiatives that promised to automate entire workflows. Yet, when the conversation shifted to major decisions—like selecting the right AI use cases—leaders often seemed to rely more on intuition than any structured methodology. One afternoon, Roger was invited to a cross-functional meeting about the company’s AI roadmap. Expecting an opportunity to showcase his knowledge, he instead found himself in a room filled with brilliant minds pulling in different directions. Some argued that AI should focus on automating repetitive tasks aligned with existing SOPs. Others insisted that AI’s real value lay in predictive modeling—helping forecast new market opportunities. The debate went in circles, with no consensus on where or how to allocate AI resources. After an hour of heated discussion, the group dispersed, each manager still convinced of the merit of their own perspective but no closer to a resolution. That evening, as Roger stood near the coffee machine, he muttered to himself, “We have SOPs for simple tasks, but nothing for big decisions. How do we even begin selecting which AI models or agents to develop first?” His frustration led him to a conversation with a coworker who had been with the company for years. “We’re missing something fundamental here,” Roger said. “We’re rushing to onboard AI agents that can mimic our SOPs—like some large language model trained to follow rote instructions—but that’s not where the real value lies. We don’t even have a framework for weighing one AI initiative against another. Everything feels like guesswork.” His coworker shrugged. “That’s just how it’s always been. The big decisions happen behind closed doors, mostly based on experience and intuition. If you’re waiting for a blueprint, you might be waiting a long time.” That was Roger’s ;ight bulb moment. Despite all his academic training, he realized the organization lacked a structured approach to high-level decision-making. Sure, they had polished SOPs for operational tasks, but when it came to determining which AI initiatives to prioritize, there were no formal criteria, classifications, or scoring mechanisms in place. Frustrated but determined, Roger decided he needed answers. Two days later, he approached a coworker known for their deep understanding of business strategy and technology. After a quick greeting, he outlined his concerns—the disorganized AI roadmap meeting, the disconnect between SOP-driven automation and strategic AI modeling, and his growing suspicion that even senior leaders were making decisions without a clear framework. His coworker listened, then gestured for him to take a seat. “Take a breath,” they said. “You’re not the first to notice this gap. Let me explain what’s really missing.” Why SOPs Aren’t Enough The coworker acknowledged that the organization was strong in SOPs. “We’re great at detailing exactly how to handle repetitive, rules-based tasks—like verifying invoices or updating inventory. In those areas, we can plug in AI agents pretty easily. They follow a well-defined script and execute tasks efficiently. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.” They leaned forward and continued, “Where we struggle, as you’ve discovered, is in decision-making at deeper levels—strategic decisions like which new product lines to pursue, or tactical decisions like selecting the right vendor partnerships. There’s no documented methodology for these. It’s all in people’s heads.” Roger tilted his head, intrigued. “So how do we fix something as basic but great impact as that?” “That’s where Decision Domain Management comes in,” he explained. In the context of data governance and management, data domains are the high-level blocks that data professionals use to define master data. Simply put, data domains help data teams logically group data that is of interest to their business or stakeholders. “Think of it as the equivalent of SOPs—but for decision-making. Instead of prescribing exact steps for routine tasks, it helps classify decisions, assess their importance, and determine whether AI can support them—and if so, in what capacity.” They broke it down further. The Decision Types “First, we categorize decisions into three broad types: Once we correctly classify a decision, we get a clearer picture of how critical it is and whether it requires an AI agent (good at routine tasks) or an AI model (good at predictive and analytical tasks).” The Cynefin Framework The coworker then introduced the Cynefin Framework, explaining how it helps categorize decision contexts: By combining Decision Types with the Cynefin Framework, organizations can determine exactly where AI projects will be most beneficial. Putting It into Practice Seeing the spark of understanding in Roger’s eyes, the coworker provided some real-world examples: ✅ AI agents are ideal for simple SOP-based tasks like invoice validation or shipping notifications. ✅ AI models can support complicated decisions, like vendor negotiations, by analyzing performance metrics. ✅ Strategic AI modeling can help navigate complex decisions, such as predicting new market trends, but human judgment is still required. “Once we classify decisions,” the coworker continued, “we can score and prioritize AI investments based on impact and feasibility. Instead of throwing AI at random problems, we make informed choices.” The Lightbulb Moment Roger exhaled, visibly relieved. “So the problem isn’t just that we lack a single best AI approach—it’s that we don’t have a shared structure for decision-making in the first place,” he said. “If we build that structure, we’ll know which AI investments matter most, and we won’t keep debating in circles.” The coworker nodded. “Exactly. Decision Domain Management is the missing blueprint. We can’t expect AI to handle what even humans haven’t clearly defined. By categorizing

February 6, 2025in Data, Enterprise, Technology0 Comments

05Feb

Deep Dive into DeepSeek

DeepSeek: The AI Lab Turned Controversial Global Player You know we have to write about anything AI related that is making waves. And DeepSeek is definitely doing that. On April 14, 2023, High-Flyer announced the launch of a dedicated artificial general intelligence (AGI) lab, focused on AI research independent of its financial business. This initiative led to the incorporation of DeepSeek on July 17, 2023, with High-Flyer as its primary investor and backer. DeepSeek’s Breakthrough and the Debate on AI Development DeepSeek quickly gained attention in the AI world, with former India IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar highlighting its impact. He stated that DeepSeek’s success reinforced the idea that better datasets and algorithms—rather than increased compute capacity—are the key to advancing AI capabilities. National Security Concerns: Hidden Risks in DeepSeek’s Code Despite its technological achievements, DeepSeek is now at the center of global controversy. Cybersecurity experts have raised serious concerns about the tool’s potential data-sharing links to the Chinese government. According to a report by ABC News, DeepSeek contains hidden code capable of transmitting user data directly to China. Ivan Tsarynny, CEO of the Ontario-based cybersecurity firm Feroot Security, conducted an analysis of DeepSeek’s code and discovered an embedded function that connects user data to CMPassport.com—the online registry for China Mobile, a state-owned telecommunications company. Key Concerns Raised by Cybersecurity Experts: Global Backlash and Regulatory Actions DeepSeek’s security concerns have sparked international scrutiny. Several governments and organizations have moved swiftly to restrict or ban its use: John Cohen, a former acting Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, described DeepSeek as one of the most blatant cases of suspected Chinese surveillance. He emphasized that it joins a growing list of Chinese tech firms identified as potential national security threats. The Future of DeepSeek DeepSeek’s rapid rise and subsequent scrutiny reflect the broader tensions between AI innovation and national security. As regulators worldwide assess its risks, the company’s future remains uncertain—caught between technological breakthroughs and growing geopolitical concerns. 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 Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more 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

February 5, 2025in AI Tools, Data0 Comments

Einstein Service Agent

It’s been a little over a year since the global surge in GenAI chatbots, sparked by the excitement around ChatGPT. Since then, numerous vendors, both large and mid-sized, have invested heavily in the technology, and many users have already adopted AI-powered chatbots. The competition is intensifying, with CRM giant Salesforce releasing its own GenAI chatbot software, Einstein Service Agent. Einstein Service Agent, built on the Einstein 1 Platform, is Salesforce’s first fully autonomous AI agent. It interacts with large language models (LLMs) by analyzing the context of customer messages to determine the next actions. Utilizing GenAI, the agent generates conversational responses grounded in a company’s trusted business data, including Salesforce CRM data. Salesforce claims that service organizations can now significantly reduce the number of tedious inquiries that hinder productivity, allowing human agents to focus on more complex tasks. For customers, this means getting answers faster without waiting for human agents. Additionally, the service promises 24/7 availability for customer communication in natural language, with an easy handoff to human agents for more complicated issues. Businesses are increasingly turning to AI-based chatbots because, unlike traditional chatbots, they don’t rely on specific programmed queries and can understand context and nuance. Alongside Salesforce, other tech leaders like AWS and Google Cloud have released their own chatbots, such as Amazon Lex and Vertex AI, continuously enhancing their software. Recently, AWS updated its chatbot with the QnAIntent capability in Amazon Lex, allowing integration with a knowledge base in Amazon Bedrock. Similarly, Google released Vertex AI Agent Builder earlier this year, enabling organizations to build AI agents with no code, which can function together with one main agent and subagents. The AI arms race is just beginning, with more vendors developing software to meet market demands. For users, this means that while AI takes over many manual and tedious tasks, the primary challenge will be choosing the right vendor that best suits the needs and resources of their business. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

January 31, 2025in Data, Einstein 1 Platform, Google, Salesforce, Technology0 Comments

23Jan

AI Market Heat

Alibaba Feels the Heat as DeepSeek Shakes Up AI Market Chinese tech giant Alibaba is under pressure following the release of an AI model by Chinese startup DeepSeek that has sparked a major reaction in the West. DeepSeek claims to have trained its model—comparable to advanced Western AI—at a fraction of the cost and with significantly fewer AI chips. In response, Alibaba launched Qwen 2.5-Max, its latest AI language model, on Tuesday—just one day before the Lunar New Year, when much of China’s economy typically slows down for a 15-day holiday. A Closer Look at Qwen 2.5-Max Qwen 2.5-Max is a Mixture of Experts (MoE) model trained on 20 trillion tokens. It has undergone supervised fine-tuning and reinforcement learning from human feedback to enhance its capabilities. MoE models function by using multiple specialized “minds,” each focused on a particular domain. When a query is received, the model dynamically routes it to the most relevant expert, improving efficiency. For instance, a coding-related question would be processed by the model’s coding expert. This MoE approach reduces computational requirements, making training more cost-effective and faster. Other AI vendors, such as France-based Mistral AI, have also embraced this technique. DeepSeek’s Disruptive Impact While Qwen 2.5-Max is not a direct competitor to DeepSeek’s R1 model—the release of which triggered a global selloff in AI stocks—it is similar to DeepSeek-V3, another MoE-based model launched earlier this month. Alibaba’s swift release underscores the competitive threat posed by DeepSeek. As the world’s fourth-largest public cloud vendor, Alibaba, along with other Chinese tech giants, has been forced to respond aggressively. In the wake of DeepSeek R1’s debut, ByteDance—the owner of TikTok—also rushed to update its AI offerings. DeepSeek has already disrupted the AI market by significantly undercutting costs. In 2023, the startup introduced V2 at just 1 yuan ($0.14) per million tokens, prompting a price war. By comparison, OpenAI’s GPT-4 starts at $10 per million tokens—a staggering difference. The timing of Alibaba and ByteDance’s latest releases suggests that DeepSeek has accelerated product development cycles across the industry, forcing competitors to move faster than planned. “Alibaba’s cloud unit has been rapidly advancing its AI technology, but the pressure from DeepSeek’s rise is immense,” said Lisa Martin, an analyst at Futurum Group. A Shifting AI Landscape DeepSeek’s rapid growth reflects a broader shift in the AI market—one driven by leaner, more powerful models that challenge conventional approaches. “The drive to build more efficient models continues,” said Gartner analyst Arun Chandrasekaran. “We’re seeing significant innovation in algorithm design and software optimization, allowing AI to run on constrained infrastructure while being more cost-competitive.” This evolution is not happening in isolation. “AI companies are learning from one another, continuously reverse-engineering techniques to create better, cheaper, and more efficient models,” Chandrasekaran added. The AI industry’s perception of cost and scalability has fundamentally changed. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, previously estimated that training GPT-4 cost over $100 million—but DeepSeek claims it built R1 for just $6 million. “We’ve spent years refining how transformers function, and the efficiency gains we’re seeing now are the result,” said Omdia analyst Bradley Shimmin. “These advances challenge the idea that massive computing power is required to develop state-of-the-art AI.” Competition and Data Controversies DeepSeek’s success showcases the increasing speed at which AI innovation is happening. Its distillation technique, which trains smaller models using insights from larger ones, has allowed it to create powerful AI while keeping costs low. However, OpenAI and Microsoft are now investigating whether DeepSeek improperly used their models’ data to train its own AI—a claim that, if true, could escalate into a major dispute. Ironically, OpenAI itself has faced similar accusations, leading some enterprises to prefer using its models through Microsoft Azure, which offers additional compliance safeguards. “The future of AI development will require stronger security layers,” Shimmin noted. “Enterprises need assurances that using models like Qwen 2.5 or DeepSeek R1 won’t expose their data.” For businesses evaluating AI models, licensing terms matter. Alibaba’s Qwen 2.5 series operates under an Apache 2.0 license, while DeepSeek uses an MIT license—both highly permissive, allowing companies to scrutinize the underlying code and ensure compliance. “These licenses give businesses transparency,” Shimmin explained. “You can vet the code itself, not just the weights, to mitigate privacy and security risks.” The Road Ahead The AI arms race between DeepSeek, Alibaba, OpenAI, and other players is just beginning. As vendors push the limits of efficiency and affordability, competition will likely drive further breakthroughs—and potentially reshape the AI landscape faster than anyone anticipated. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

January 23, 2025in Data, Enterprise, Technology0 Comments

09Jan

Generative AI Tools

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

January 9, 2025in AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Google, Snowflake0 Comments

03Jan

Speed to Launch of Agentforce

Agentforce isn’t just another AI platform that requires months of customization. At most customers, they quickly saw its power, launching transformative generative AI experiences in just days—no AI engineers needed. For companies with larger admin teams, the benefits can be even greater. Unlike other platforms, Agentforce places a strong emphasis on data privacy, building on the trust that Salesforce is known for, making these virtual assistants invaluable. We began with employee-facing use cases, saving our team several hours per week. Now, with Agentforce, we’re seeing even more opportunities to drive efficiencies and better serve our customers. “We’re excited to leverage Agentforce to completely overhaul recruitment and enrollment at Unity Environmental University. Instead of traditional forms or chatbots, our students will soon engage with an autonomous recruitment agent directly on our website, offering personalized support throughout the college application process.”– Dr. Melik Khoury, President & CEO, Unity Environmental University “For first-generation college students, the 1:385 coach-to-student ratio makes personalized guidance challenging. By integrating Agentforce into our platform, we’re deploying cutting-edge solutions to better support students. These agents enable our coaches to focus on high-touch, personalized experiences while handling vital tasks like sharing deadlines and answering common questions—24/7.”– Siva Kumari, CEO, College Possible “Agentforce offers organizations a unique opportunity to move beyond incremental improvements and achieve exponential ROI. By automating customer interactions, improving outcomes, and reducing costs, it integrates data, flows, and user interfaces to mitigate risks and accelerate value creation. This agent-based platform approach allows businesses to harness AI’s full potential, revolutionizing customer engagement and paving the way for exponential growth.”– Rebecca Wettemann, CEO and Principal Analyst, Valoir “Autonomous agents powered by Salesforce’s Agentforce are revolutionizing customer experiences by providing fast, accurate, and personalized support around the clock. With advanced AI making decisions and taking actions autonomously, businesses can resolve customer issues more efficiently, fostering deeper interactions and enhancing satisfaction. This innovation enables companies to reallocate human resources to more complex tasks, boosting individual productivity and scaling business growth. Agentforce is setting new standards for seamless sales, service, marketing, and commerce interactions, reinforcing its leadership in customer experience.”– Michael Fauscette, CEO and Chief Analyst, Arion Research LLC “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” — Alan Kay, Computer Science Pioneer Technology progresses in what biologists call punctuated equilibrium, with new capabilities slowly emerging from labs and tinkerers until a breakthrough shifts the axis of possibility. These pioneering feats create new paradigms, unleashing waves of innovation—much like the Apple Macintosh, the iPhone, and the Salesforce Platform, which revolutionized the enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) model and sparked an entire industry. The Age of Agentforce Begins At Dreamforce 2024, Salesforce Futures reflected on the launch of Agentforce, inspired by visions like the Apple Knowledge Navigator. In 2023, we used this inspiration to craft our Salesforce 2030 film, which showcased the collaboration between humans and autonomous AI agents. Now, with Agentforce, we’re witnessing that vision come to life. Agentforce is a suite of customizable AI agents and tools built on the Salesforce Platform, offering an elegant solution to the complexity of AI deployment. It addresses the challenges of integrating data, models, infrastructure, and applications into a unified system. With powerful tools like Agent Builder and Model Builder, organizations can easily create, customize, and deploy AI agents. Salesforce’s Atlas Reasoning Engine empowers these agents to handle both routine and complex tasks autonomously. A New Era of AI Innovation At Dreamforce 2024, over 10,000 attendees raced to build their own agents using the “Agent Builder” experience, turning verbal instructions into fully functioning agents in under 15 minutes. This wasn’t just another chatbot—it’s a new breed of AI that could transform how businesses operate and deliver superior customer experiences. Companies like Saks, OpenTable, and Wiley have quickly embraced this technology. As Mick Costigan and David Berthy of Salesforce Futures explain, “When we see signals like this, it pushes us toward the future. Soon, we’ll see complex, multi-agent systems solving higher-order challenges, both in the enterprise and in consumer devices.” Shaping the Future Agentforce isn’t just a product—it’s a platform for experimentation. With hundreds of thousands of Salesforce customers soon gaining access, the full potential of these tools will unfold in ways we can’t yet imagine. As with every major technological shift, the real magic will lie in how people use it. Every interaction, every agent deployed, and every problem solved will shape the future in unexpected ways. Platform Evolution Adam Evans, Salesforce SVP of Product, notes that Agentforce builds on the company’s transformation over the past four years, following the pattern of Salesforce’s original disruption of enterprise software. Unlike traditional solutions, Agentforce eliminates the need for customers to build their own AI infrastructure, providing a ready-to-use solution. At the core of Agentforce is the Atlas Reasoning Engine, delivering results that are twice as relevant and 33% more accurate than competing solutions. This engine integrates Salesforce Data Cloud, Flow for automation, and the Einstein Trust Layer for governance. Early Customer Results Early Agentforce deployments highlight how organizations are using autonomous agents to enhance, rather than replace, human workers: George Pokorny, Senior VP of Global Customer Success at OpenTable, shared, “Just saving two minutes on a ten-minute call lets our service reps focus on strengthening customer relationships, thanks to seamless integration with Service Cloud, giving us a unified view of diner preferences and history.” Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

January 3, 2025in Agentforce Platform, Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud, Technology

26Dec

The Impact of AI on Jobs

The Impact of AI on Jobs: A Historical and Transformative Perspective For centuries, people have feared losing jobs to technological advancements. From the introduction of the printing press in 1440 to the widespread adoption of assembly lines in manufacturing, history has followed a familiar pattern: a wave of panic followed by a surge of innovation. Today, with AI in the spotlight, headlines warn of job-stealing robots. Yet, AI is not here to take jobs; it’s revealing new ones—and at an unprecedented pace. A Paradigm Shift: AI as a Job Creator Contrary to popular belief, AI is reshaping the job market for the better. Rather than replacing workers, it amplifies human potential, pushing society toward work that is creative, strategic, and uniquely human. Instead of asking, “Will AI take my job?” the better question is, “What new opportunities can AI unlock?” The answers are exciting and transformative. Lessons from the Past Technological disruption is far from new. The printing press, the weaving loom, and even the internet all provoked fears of mass unemployment. Yet, each time, these innovations sparked transformation rather than devastation. Consider the ATM, introduced in the 1960s. Initially, bank tellers feared redundancy. However, rather than replacing tellers, ATMs automated routine tasks, freeing human workers to focus on customer service and financial advising. In fact, the number of bank tellers increased in the decades following ATM adoption. AI follows the same trajectory. By handling repetitive tasks like sorting emails or managing schedules, AI frees workers to focus on areas requiring emotional intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving. AI: A Partner, Not a Competitor AI excels in areas that humans struggle with, such as processing vast datasets, recognizing patterns, and executing repetitive tasks with precision. However, it lacks empathy, context, and abstract thinking—traits that remain uniquely human. For example, IBM Watson can analyze millions of medical journals to suggest treatment options. Yet, a doctor’s role remains indispensable, as patients need empathy, understanding, and a human touch. Similarly, legal AI tools like CaseText can streamline research, but building persuasive arguments and negotiating terms require skills no algorithm can match. Rather than replacing professionals, AI enhances their productivity, enabling them to focus on higher-value tasks. The Birth of Entirely New Industries AI is not only reshaping existing jobs but also creating new roles and industries. The rise of generative AI has introduced positions like prompt engineers, who design effective queries to maximize AI’s output. Similarly, the need for unbiased algorithms has created the field of data ethics, where specialists ensure AI systems prioritize equity and fairness. These roles underscore an important reality: AI doesn’t eliminate opportunities—it redefines them. Addressing Ethical Challenges AI’s reliance on data is both its strength and its vulnerability. Algorithms trained on biased data can perpetuate harmful stereotypes, as seen in Amazon’s failed hiring algorithm, which penalized women. This challenge has given rise to data ethicists tasked with auditing algorithms and designing fair systems, further showcasing how AI disruption creates new fields and opportunities. Augmentation Over Replacement Fear of AI stems from misunderstanding its role. Machines are adept at repetitive and analytical tasks, but they lack the nuanced understanding required for roles in fields like art, music, and medicine. AI tools such as Adobe Sensei or AIVA enhance creativity, allowing artists and musicians to experiment, iterate, and push boundaries. Just as the printing press democratized writing rather than ending it, AI empowers workers to focus on what makes us uniquely human. A Future Worth Working Toward AI represents a profound shift in how society views work. It is not a destroyer of jobs but a catalyst for transformation. By automating inefficiencies and reinforcing human strengths, AI unlocks opportunities yet to be imagined. Rather than fearing the rise of AI, embracing its potential can lead to a future where work is more meaningful, creative, and impactful—an evolution worth striving for. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

December 26, 2024in AI Tools, Data, Generative AI, Salesforce

20Dec

AI Agents Set to Break Through in 2025

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

December 20, 2024in AI Tools, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Generative AI, Google, Salesforce, Technology

04Dec

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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

December 4, 2024in Agentforce Platform, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Generative AI, Salesforce, Technology

02Dec

Salesforce for Manufacturing

Salesforce for Manufacturing: Field Service Spark that Fuels Operational Excellence Traffic control ensures vehicles stay on course, avoid disruptions, and arrive safely, safeguarding travelers. Similarly, Salesforce Field Service (formerly known as Salesforce Field Service Lightning) acts as the traffic cop for effective field service management, ensuring seamless operations. It assigns the right tasks to the right technicians with real-time updates and provides essential tools for optimal efficiency. This comprehensive platform addresses routing needs while streamlining processes to boost operational outcomes. “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” – Stephen Covey Salesforce Field Service eliminates guesswork in scheduling. By leveraging data-driven strategies, it enhances operational efficiency and integrates effortlessly into manufacturing workflows. Implementation of this platform results in a 32% increase in mobile worker productivity, making it an essential solution for manufacturers today. To unlock its full potential, partnering with a Salesforce consulting expert like Tectonic ensures the solution is tailored to your specific needs. In this insight, we’ll explore how Salesforce Field Service can optimize manufacturing operations, improve productivity, and transform field service management into a streamlined and efficient process. Understanding Salesforce for Manufacturing Traffic control’s efforts to ensure smooth operations mirror the complexity of managing manufacturing field service tasks. Manufacturers often face challenges such as technician scheduling difficulties and communication breakdowns. Salesforce Field Service effectively addresses these issues with features like: With Salesforce Field Service, manufacturers achieve control, visibility, and operational efficiency, transforming chaos into coordinated success. 90% of decision-makers say their company invests in specialized technology to improve mobile worker productivity. – Salesforce Benefits of Salesforce Field Service in Manufacturing Salesforce Use Cases for Manufacturing Real-Life Success Stories with Salesforce Field Service Why Tectonic is the Ideal Partner for Salesforce Field Service Implementation Problem Statement: A leading electrical appliance manufacturer struggled with outdated manual scheduling, inefficient workflows, and excessive field visits, negatively impacting efficiency and customer satisfaction. Solution Offered: Salesforce implemented Salesforce Service Cloud integrated with Field Service, optimizing scheduling, dispatching, and field operations for enhanced productivity and superior customer service. Results Achieved: Your Path to Field Service Excellence Just as traffic control ensures safe and timely travelts, Salesforce Field Service organizes and streamlines field operations. With its capabilities for real-time scheduling, proactive maintenance, and optimized routing, it becomes an invaluable resource for manufacturers. Tectonic’s Salesforce consulting expertise ensures your manufacturing needs are met with precision. By implementing a tailored solution, you’ll unlock operational efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction, and drive business growth. Contact us now to take your manufacturing success 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

December 2, 2024in Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Service Cloud, Technology

28Nov

Inventing the Future of Agents

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” – Alan Kay, Computer Science PioneerOr, to channel Buzz Lightyear: “To infinity and beyond.” Inventing the Future of Agents The history of computing has always advanced in fits and starts, a pattern biologists call punctuated equilibrium. Revolutionary technologies emerge slowly—nurtured in research labs, garages, and the minds of visionaries—until the moment comes when a breakthrough shifts the axis of possibility. From there, a new paradigm takes shape, unleashing waves of innovation. Think of the Apple Macintosh, the iPhone, and Salesforce’s own Platform, which pioneered enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) and sparked an entirely new industry. Each of these milestones reshaped the way we live and work, setting the stage for even greater advances to come. Alan Kay: A Visionary for Computing’s Future One such paradigm-shifter was Alan Kay. In 1971, while working at Xerox PARC, Kay was immersed in an era when computers were room-sized behemoths. At the time, only four of these machines were connected to the fledgling ARPAnet, a precursor to today’s internet. Kay, a skilled musician with a deep appreciation for human-centered design, brought an empathetic and humanistic approach to innovation. In 1972, he introduced the Dynabook—a radical vision for personal computing that was decades ahead of its time. The Dynabook concept featured a battery-powered laptop with a touchscreen, wireless access to global information, and an interface so simple even children could use it. Kay and his team at PARC went on to develop many of the foundational elements of modern personal computing: overlapping windows, graphical user interfaces, and object-oriented programming. Later, while at Apple, Kay helped shape the vision for the groundbreaking 1987 Apple Knowledge Navigator video, which anticipated today’s iPad and iPhone. Agents and Humans: Driving Success Together Fast-forward to today, and we are on the cusp of another technological leap forward: AI agents. Much like Kay’s vision of personal computing, the emergence of intelligent, autonomous agents signals a new chapter in how humans and technology work together. Agentforce: Bringing the Future to the Present This interplay between visionary ideas and emerging technologies was on full display with the launch of Agentforce at Dreamforce 2024. A year earlier, at Dreamforce 2023, Salesforce Futures debuted its Salesforce 2030 film, drawing inspiration from Apple’s Knowledge Navigator. The film offered a glimpse into a world where humans collaborate seamlessly with autonomous AI agents—an aspirational vision of business transformed. Since then, the imagination gap between fiction and reality has narrowed. Salesforce’s work in Agentforce and publications like Personal AI Agents and Agents at Work have explored how agents are already changing business as we know it. These tools are bringing science fiction to life, enabling businesses to achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency, creativity, and success. A New Paradigm in Progress Like the Macintosh, the iPhone, or the Salesforce Platform, the rise of AI agents represents another transformative moment in computing history. By combining vision with technological breakthroughs, we are witnessing the dawn of a new era—one where humans and AI agents work together to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Alan Kay’s timeless wisdom rings true: the future isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we invent. With Agentforce, that future is already here. Inventing the Future of Agents. Are you ready to start Inventing the Future of Agents? Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

November 28, 2024in Enterprise, Salesforce, Technology

25Nov

Salesforce Chose a Human-First Approach to Promote AI

Why Salesforce Chose a Human-First Approach to Promote AI Salesforce won Gold in the Use of GenAI category at The Drum Awards for Advertising by creatively addressing AI-related concerns while demonstrating the power of responsible AI adoption. Here’s a look at the award-winning campaign. Salesforce Chose a Human-First Approach to Promote AI. The Challenge The rapid adoption of AI last year triggered widespread anxiety. Many professionals felt their jobs were at risk, and concerns grew over AI’s trustworthiness, ethical implications, and potential to replace human talent. Businesses needed to address this apprehension while showcasing the transformative potential of AI in a responsible manner. The Strategy Amid the rising uncertainty, Salesforce saw an opportunity to lead the conversation by aligning the campaign with one of its core values: innovation. Rather than positioning AI as an independent solution, Salesforce sought to show that its true power lies in the hands of creative humans who apply it thoughtfully. The campaign aimed to demonstrate that AI isn’t inherently good or bad—it’s a tool, and its impact depends on how it’s used. Salesforce’s creative and production teams integrated generative AI as an assistant, ensuring that AI enhanced human creativity rather than replacing it. This approach positioned Salesforce as a leader in responsible AI adoption, both within the creative industry and across broader business applications. The Campaign Execution Salesforce embraced a “walk the walk” approach to responsible AI by using generative AI tools to assist, not replace, its human creatives. The result was a campaign that resonated deeply with Salesforce’s target audience of business decision-makers, sparking conversations around trust and innovation. The Results The Ask More of AI campaign achieved exceptional outcomes across various metrics: Salesforce Chose a Human-First Approach to Promote AI By adopting a balanced approach—leveraging AI to enhance human creativity without replacing it—Salesforce successfully addressed AI-related fears while positioning itself as a trusted innovator. The campaign not only elevated Salesforce’s brand but also set a benchmark for responsible AI use in marketing. Through “Ask More of AI,” Salesforce demonstrated that trust and purpose are the cornerstones of unlocking AI’s potential. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

November 25, 2024in AI Tools, Generative AI

24Nov

AI Energy Solution

Could the AI Energy Solution Make AI Unstoppable? The Rise of Brain-Based AI In 2002, Jason Padgett, a furniture salesman from Tacoma, Washington, experienced a life-altering transformation after a traumatic brain injury. Following a violent assault, Padgett began to perceive the world through intricate patterns of geometry and fractals, developing a profound, intuitive grasp of advanced mathematical concepts—despite no formal education in the subject. His extraordinary abilities, emerging from the brain’s adaptation to injury, revealed an essential truth: the human brain’s remarkable capacity for resilience and reorganization. This phenomenon underscores the brain’s reliance on inhibition, a critical mechanism that silences or separates neural processes to conserve energy, clarify signals, and enable complex cognition. Researcher Iain McGilchrist highlights that this ability to step back from immediate stimuli fosters reflection and thoughtful action. Yet this foundational trait—key to the brain’s efficiency and adaptability—is absent from today’s dominant AI models. Current AI systems, like Transformers powering tools such as ChatGPT, lack inhibition. These models rely on probabilistic predictions derived from massive datasets, resulting in inefficiencies and an inability to learn independently. However, the rise of brain-based AI seeks to emulate aspects of inhibition, creating systems that are not only more energy-efficient but also capable of learning from real-world, primary data without constant retraining. The AI Energy Problem Today’s AI landscape is dominated by Transformer models, known for their ability to process vast amounts of secondary data, such as scraped text, images, and videos. While these models have propelled significant advancements, their insatiable demand for computational power has exposed critical flaws. As energy costs rise and infrastructure investment balloons, the industry is beginning to reevaluate its reliance on Transformer models. This shift has sparked interest in brain-inspired AI, which promises sustainable solutions through decentralized, self-learning systems that mimic human cognitive efficiency. What Brain-Based AI Solves Brain-inspired models aim to address three fundamental challenges with current AI systems: The human brain’s ability to build cohesive perceptions from fragmented inputs—like stitching together a clear visual image from saccades and peripheral signals—serves as a blueprint for these models, demonstrating how advanced functionality can emerge from minimal energy expenditure. The Secret to Brain Efficiency: A Thousand Brains Jeff Hawkins, the creator of the Palm Pilot, has dedicated decades to understanding the brain’s neocortex and its potential for AI design. His Thousand Brains Theory of Intelligence posits that the neocortex operates through a universal algorithm, with approximately 150,000 cortical columns functioning as independent processors. These columns identify patterns, sequences, and spatial representations, collaborating to form a cohesive perception of the world. Hawkins’ brain-inspired approach challenges traditional AI paradigms by emphasizing predictive coding and distributed processing, reducing energy demands while enabling real-time learning. Unlike Transformers, which centralize control, brain-based AI uses localized decision-making, creating a more scalable and adaptive system. Is AI in a Bubble? Despite immense investment in AI, the market’s focus remains heavily skewed toward infrastructure rather than applications. NVIDIA’s data centers alone generate 5 billion in annualized revenue, while major AI applications collectively bring in just billion. This imbalance has led to concerns about an AI bubble, reminiscent of the early 2000s dot-com and telecom busts, where overinvestment in infrastructure outpaced actual demand. The sustainability of current AI investments hinges on the viability of new models like brain-based AI. If these systems gain widespread adoption within the next decade, today’s energy-intensive Transformer models may become obsolete, signaling a profound market correction. Controlling Brain-Based AI: A Philosophical Divide The rise of brain-based AI introduces not only technical challenges but also philosophical ones. Scholars like Joscha Bach argue for a reductionist approach, constructing intelligence through mathematical models that approximate complex phenomena. Others advocate for holistic designs, warning that purely rational systems may lack the broader perspective needed to navigate ethical and unpredictable scenarios. This philosophical debate mirrors the physical divide in the human brain: one hemisphere excels in reductionist analysis, while the other integrates holistic perspectives. As AI systems grow increasingly complex, the philosophical framework guiding their development will profoundly shape their behavior—and their impact on society. The future of AI lies in balancing efficiency, adaptability, and ethical design. Whether brain-based models succeed in replacing Transformers will depend not only on their technical advantages but also on our ability to guide their evolution responsibly. As AI inches closer to mimicking human intelligence, the stakes have never been higher. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more 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

November 24, 2024in Data, Laws

15Nov

LLM Economies

Throughout history, disruptive technologies have been the catalyst for major social and economic revolutions. The invention of the plow and irrigation systems 12,000 years ago sparked the Agricultural Revolution, while Johannes Gutenberg’s 15th-century printing press fueled the Protestant Reformation and helped propel Europe out of the Middle Ages into the Renaissance. In the 18th century, James Watt’s steam engine ushered in the Industrial Revolution. More recently, the internet has revolutionized communication, commerce, and information access, shrinking the world into a global village. Similarly, smartphones have transformed how people interact with their surroundings. Now, we stand at the dawn of the AI revolution. Large Language Models (LLMs) represent a monumental leap forward, with significant economic implications at both macro and micro levels. These models are reshaping global markets, driving new forms of currency, and creating a novel economic landscape. The reason LLMs are transforming industries and redefining economies is simple: they automate both routine and complex tasks that traditionally require human intelligence. They enhance decision-making processes, boost productivity, and facilitate cost reductions across various sectors. This enables organizations to allocate human resources toward more creative and strategic endeavors, resulting in the development of new products and services. From healthcare to finance to customer service, LLMs are creating new markets and driving AI-driven services like content generation and conversational assistants into the mainstream. To truly grasp the engine driving this new global economy, it’s essential to understand the inner workings of this disruptive technology. These posts will provide both a macro-level overview of the economic forces at play and a deep dive into the technical mechanics of LLMs, equipping you with a comprehensive understanding of the revolution happening now. Why Now? The Connection Between Language and Human Intelligence AI did not begin with ChatGPT’s arrival in November 2022. Many people were developing machine learning classification models in 1999, and the roots of AI go back even further. Artificial Intelligence was formally born in 1950, when Alan Turing—considered the father of theoretical computer science and famed for cracking the Nazi Enigma code during World War II—created the first formal definition of intelligence. This definition, known as the Turing Test, demonstrated the potential for machines to exhibit human-like intelligence through natural language conversations. The test involves a human evaluator who engages in conversations with both a human and a machine. If the evaluator cannot reliably distinguish between the two, the machine is considered to have passed the test. Remarkably, after 72 years of gradual AI development, ChatGPT simulated this very interaction, passing the Turing Test and igniting the current AI explosion. But why is language so closely tied to human intelligence, rather than, for example, vision? While 70% of our brain’s neurons are devoted to vision, OpenAI’s pioneering image generation model, DALL-E, did not trigger the same level of excitement as ChatGPT. The answer lies in the profound role language has played in human evolution. The Evolution of Language The development of language was the turning point in humanity’s rise to dominance on Earth. As Yuval Noah Harari points out in his book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, it was the ability to gossip and discuss abstract concepts that set humans apart from other species. Complex communication, such as gossip, requires a shared, sophisticated language. Human language evolved from primitive cave signs to structured alphabets, which, along with grammar rules, created languages capable of expressing thousands of words. In today’s digital age, language has further evolved with the inclusion of emojis, and now with the advent of GenAI, tokens have become the latest cornerstone in this progression. These shifts highlight the extraordinary journey of human language, from simple symbols to intricate digital representations. In the next post, we will explore the intricacies of LLMs, focusing specifically on tokens. But before that, let’s delve into the economic forces shaping the LLM-driven world. The Forces Shaping the LLM Economy AI Giants in Competition Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels argued that those who control the means of production hold power. The tech giants of today understand that AI is the future means of production, and the race to dominate the LLM market is well underway. This competition is fierce, with industry leaders like OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook battling for supremacy. New challengers such as Mistral (France), AI21 (Israel), and Elon Musk’s xAI and Anthropic are also entering the fray. The LLM industry is expanding exponentially, with billions of dollars of investment pouring in. For example, Anthropic has raised $4.5 billion from 43 investors, including major players like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. The Scarcity of GPUs Just as Bitcoin mining requires vast computational resources, training LLMs demands immense computing power, driving a search for new energy sources. Microsoft’s recent investment in nuclear energy underscores this urgency. At the heart of LLM technology are Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), essential for powering deep neural networks. These GPUs have become scarce and expensive, adding to the competitive tension. Tokens: The New Currency of the LLM Economy Tokens are the currency driving the emerging AI economy. Just as money facilitates transactions in traditional markets, tokens are the foundation of LLM economics. But what exactly are tokens? Tokens are the basic units of text that LLMs process. They can be single characters, parts of words, or entire words. For example, the word “Oscar” might be split into two tokens, “os” and “car.” The performance of LLMs—quality, speed, and cost—hinges on how efficiently they generate these tokens. LLM providers price their services based on token usage, with different rates for input (prompt) and output (completion) tokens. As companies rely more on LLMs, especially for complex tasks like agentic applications, token usage will significantly impact operational costs. With fierce competition and the rise of open-source models like Llama-3.1, the cost of tokens is rapidly decreasing. For instance, OpenAI reduced its GPT-4 pricing by about 80% over the past year and a half. This trend enables companies to expand their portfolio of AI-powered products, further fueling the LLM economy. Context Windows: Expanding Capabilities

November 15, 2024in Artificial Intelligence, Google, Technology

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