SSO

21Oct

How Skechers Solved Its Ecommerce Challenges

Skechers Boosts Direct-to-Consumer Sales with Ecommerce Platform Upgrades Skechers, now a global brand in 2024, credits its recent ecommerce platform upgrades for saving time and increasing direct-to-consumer sales. However, it wasn’t always equipped with the right technology to support its massive growth. During Salesforce’s Dreamforce conference in San Francisco, Eric Cheng, Skechers USA Inc.’s director of ecommerce architecture, shared insights into how key technology decisions helped the brand expand and enhance its website and content capabilities. “Today, we’re present in over 180 countries worldwide,” Cheng said, speaking on stage at the Moscone Center. Skechers’ journey began in 1992, and its expansion has taken the brand across borders, reaching millions of customers worldwide. “We connect hundreds of millions of customers through our retail stores and ecommerce platform to deliver a unique experience,” Cheng noted, emphasizing the need to meet the diverse demands of each market. Skechers ranks No. 273 in the Top 1000, Digital Commerce 360’s ranking of the largest North American e-retailers by online sales, where it is categorized as an Apparel & Accessories retailer. Digital Commerce 360 projects that Skechers will reach 0.65 million in online sales by 2024. Ecommerce Platform Challenges Cheng acknowledged that Skechers’ digital transformation wasn’t immediate: “The journey did not just happen overnight; it took time and effort.” Skechers faced challenges in three key areas: content management, scalability, and customer experience. The legacy system was inadequate, lacking robust tools for efficient content delivery, previewing scheduled content, and handling localization. As Cheng described, launching a marketing page often required the content team to be on standby at midnight—an unsustainable approach for 17 countries. How Skechers Solved Its Ecommerce Challenges To overcome these hurdles, Skechers partnered with Astound Digital. Together, they implemented Salesforce Service Cloud and Manhattan Active Omni for order management. Kyle Montgomery, senior vice president of commerce at Astound Digital, joined Cheng on stage and highlighted the goal: “Their vision was to unify, supply, and scale.” This transformation enabled Skechers to bring 17 countries in Europe, Japan, and North America onto a single platform. Jennifer Lane, Salesforce’s director of success guides, also emphasized the flexibility achieved using Salesforce’s Page Designer and localization solutions from Salesforce’s AppExchange. Integrations with Thomson Reuters for tax, CyberSource for payments, and Salesforce Marketing Cloud for personalization further enhanced Skechers’ capabilities. The Results Cheng highlighted three key improvements after the ecommerce overhaul. First, content creation and localization tools improved operational efficiency by over 500%. The time to launch in new markets was dramatically reduced from five months to just a few weeks. Additionally, Skechers saw a notable sales boost, with a 24.5% increase in its direct-to-consumer segment during Q1 2023. Skechers’ success demonstrates the significant impact of a well-executed ecommerce platform upgrade, allowing the brand to scale globally while improving customer experience and operational efficiency. Contact Tectonic to learn what Salesforce can do for you. 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

October 21, 2024in Google, Salesforce, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Salesforce Service Cloud, Technology

21Oct

AI in Networking

AI Tools in Networking: Tailoring Capabilities to Unique Needs AI tools are becoming increasingly common across various industries, offering a wide range of functionalities. However, network engineers may not require every capability these tools provide. Each network has distinct requirements that align with specific business objectives, necessitating that network engineers and developers select AI toolsets tailored to their networks’ needs. While network teams often desire similar AI capabilities, they also encounter common challenges in integrating these tools into their systems. The Rise of AI in Networking Though AI is not a new concept—having existed for decades in the form of automated and expert systems—it is gaining unprecedented attention. According to Jim Frey, principal analyst for networking at TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group, many organizations have not fully grasped AI’s potential in production environments over the past three years. “AI has been around for a long time, but the interesting thing is, only a minority—not even half—have really said they’re using it effectively in production for the last three years,” Frey noted. Generative AI (GenAI) has significantly contributed to this renewed interest in AI. Shamus McGillicuddy, vice president of research at Enterprise Management Associates, categorizes AI tools into two main types: GenAI and AIOps (AI for IT operations). “Generative AI, like ChatGPT, has recently surged in popularity, becoming a focal point of discussion among IT professionals,” McGillicuddy explained. “AIOps, on the other hand, encompasses machine learning, anomaly detection, and analytics.” The increasing complexity of networks is another factor driving the adoption of AI in networking. Frey highlighted that the demands of modern network environments are beyond human capability to manage manually, making AI engines a vital solution. Essential AI Tool Capabilities for Networks While individual network needs vary, many network engineers seek similar functionalities when integrating AI. Commonly desired capabilities include: According to McGillicuddy’s research, network optimization and automated troubleshooting are among the most popular use cases for AI. However, many professionals prefer to retain manual oversight in the fixing process. “Automated troubleshooting can identify and analyze issues, but typically, people want to approve the proposed fixes,” McGillicuddy stated. Many of these capabilities are critical for enhancing security and mitigating threats. Frey emphasized that networking professionals increasingly view AI as a tool to improve organizational security. DeCarlo echoed this sentiment, noting that network managers share similar objectives with security professionals regarding proactive problem recognition. Frey also mentioned alternative use cases for AI, such as documentation and change recommendations, which, while less popular, can offer significant value to network teams. Ultimately, the relevance of any AI capability hinges on its fit within the network environment and team needs. “I don’t think you can prioritize one capability over another,” DeCarlo remarked. “It depends on the tools being used and their effectiveness.” Generative AI: A New Frontier Despite its recent emergence, GenAI has quickly become an asset in the networking field. McGillicuddy noted that in the past year and a half, network professionals have adopted GenAI tools, with ChatGPT being one of the most recognized examples. “One user reported that leveraging ChatGPT could reduce a task that typically takes four hours down to just 10 minutes,” McGillicuddy said. However, he cautioned that users must understand the limitations of GenAI, as mistakes can occur. “There’s a risk of errors or ‘hallucinations’ with these tools, and having blind faith in their outputs can lead to significant network issues,” he warned. In addition to ChatGPT, vendors are developing GenAI interfaces for their products, including virtual assistants. According to McGillicuddy’s findings, common use cases for vendor GenAI products include: DeCarlo added that GenAI tools offer valuable training capabilities due to their rapid processing speeds and in-depth analysis, which can expedite knowledge acquisition within the network. Frey highlighted that GenAI’s rise is attributed to its ability to outperform older systems lacking sophistication. Nevertheless, the complexity of GenAI infrastructures has led to a demand for AIOps tools to manage these systems effectively. “We won’t be able to manage GenAI infrastructures without the support of AI tools, as human capabilities cannot keep pace with rapid changes,” Frey asserted. Challenges in Implementing AI Tools While AI tools present significant benefits for networks, network engineers and managers must navigate several challenges before integration. Data Privacy, Collection, and Quality Data usage remains a critical concern for organizations considering AIOps and GenAI tools. Frey noted that the diverse nature of network data—combining operational information with personally identifiable information—heightens data privacy concerns. For GenAI, McGillicuddy pointed out the importance of validating AI outputs and ensuring high-quality data is utilized for training. “If you feed poor data to a generative AI tool, it will struggle to accurately understand your network,” he explained. Complexity of AI Tools Frey and McGillicuddy agreed that the complexity of both AI and network systems could hinder effective deployment. Frey mentioned that AI systems, especially GenAI, require careful tuning and strong recommendations to minimize inaccuracies. McGillicuddy added that intricate network infrastructures, particularly those involving multiple vendors, could limit the effectiveness of AIOps components, which are often specialized for specific systems. User Uptake and Skills Gaps User adoption of AI tools poses a significant challenge. Proper training is essential to realize the full benefits of AI in networking. Some network professionals may be resistant to using AI, while others may lack the knowledge to integrate these tools effectively. McGillicuddy noted that AIOps tools are often less intuitive than GenAI, necessitating a certain level of expertise for users to extract value. “Understanding how tools function and identifying potential gaps can be challenging,” DeCarlo added. The learning curve can be steep, particularly for teams accustomed to longstanding tools. Integration Issues Integration challenges can further complicate user adoption. McGillicuddy highlighted two dimensions of this issue: tools and processes. On the tools side, concerns arise about harmonizing GenAI with existing systems. “On the process side, it’s crucial to ensure that teams utilize these tools effectively,” he said. DeCarlo cautioned that organizations might need to create in-house supplemental tools to bridge integration gaps, complicating the synchronization of vendor AI

October 21, 2024in AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Generative AI

21Oct

Document Checklist in Salesforce Screen Flow

One effective way to accomplish this is by using the Document Matrix element in Discovery Framework–based OmniScripts. This approach allows you to streamline the assessment process and ensure that the advisor uploads the correct documents.

October 21, 2024in Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Financial Services Solutions, Salesforce for Nonprofits, Salesforce Health and Life Sciences Solutions, Salesforce Hospitality Travel and Transportation, Salesforce Implementation Services, Salesforce Optimization, Salesforce Public Sector Solutions

19Oct

AI Prompts to Accelerate Academic Reading

10 AI Prompts to Accelerate Academic Reading with ChatGPT and Claude AI In the era of information overload, keeping pace with academic research can feel daunting. Tools like ChatGPT and Claude AI can streamline your reading and help you extract valuable insights from research papers quickly and efficiently. These AI assistants, when used ethically and responsibly, support your critical analysis by summarizing complex studies, highlighting key findings, and breaking down methodologies. While these prompts enhance efficiency, they should complement—never replace—your own critical thinking and thorough reading. AI Prompts for Academic Reading 1. Elevator Pitch Summary Prompt: “Summarize this paper in 3–5 sentences as if explaining it to a colleague during an elevator ride.”This prompt distills the essence of a paper, helping you quickly grasp the core idea and decide its relevance. 2. Key Findings Extraction Prompt: “List the top 5 key findings or conclusions from this paper, with a brief explanation of each.”Cut through jargon to access the research’s core contributions in seconds. 3. Methodology Breakdown Prompt: “Explain the study’s methodology in simple terms. What are its strengths and potential limitations?”Understand the foundation of the research and critically evaluate its validity. 4. Literature Review Assistant Prompt: “Identify the key papers cited in the literature review and summarize each in one sentence, explaining its connection to the study.”A game-changer for understanding the context and building your own literature review. 5. Jargon Buster Prompt: “List specialized terms or acronyms in this paper with definitions in plain language.”Create a personalized glossary to simplify dense academic language. 6. Visual Aid Interpreter Prompt: “Explain the key takeaways from Figure X (or Table Y) and its significance to the study.”Unlock insights from charts and tables, ensuring no critical information is missed. 7. Implications Explorer Prompt: “What are the potential real-world implications or applications of this research? Suggest 3–5 possible impacts.”Connect theory to practice by exploring broader outcomes and significance. 8. Cross-Disciplinary Connections Prompt: “How might this paper’s findings or methods apply to [insert your field]? Suggest potential connections or applications.”Encourage interdisciplinary thinking by finding links between research areas. 9. Future Research Generator Prompt: “Based on the limitations and unanswered questions, suggest 3–5 potential directions for future research.”Spark new ideas and identify gaps for exploration in your field. 10. The Devil’s Advocate Prompt: “Play devil’s advocate: What criticisms or counterarguments could be made against the paper’s main claims? How might the authors respond?”Refine your critical thinking and prepare for discussions or reviews. Additional Resources Generative AI Prompts with Retrieval Augmented GenerationAI Agents and Tabular DataAI Evolves With Agentforce and Atlas Conclusion Incorporating these prompts into your routine can help you process information faster, understand complex concepts, and uncover new insights. Remember, AI is here to assist—not replace—your research skills. Stay critical, adapt prompts to your needs, and maximize your academic productivity. 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

October 19, 2024in AI Tools, Data, Generative AI

18Oct

Generative AI Energy Consumption Rises

Generative AI Energy Consumption Rises, but Impact on ROI Unclear The energy costs associated with generative AI (GenAI) are often overlooked in enterprise financial planning. However, industry experts suggest that IT leaders should account for the power consumption that comes with adopting this technology. When building a business case for generative AI, some costs are evident, like large language model (LLM) fees and SaaS subscriptions. Other costs, such as preparing data, upgrading cloud infrastructure, and managing organizational changes, are less visible but significant. Generative AI Energy Consumption Rises One often overlooked cost is the energy consumption of generative AI. Training LLMs and responding to user requests—whether answering questions or generating images—demands considerable computing power. These tasks generate heat and necessitate sophisticated cooling systems in data centers, which, in turn, consume additional energy. Despite this, most enterprises have not focused on the energy requirements of GenAI. However, the issue is gaining more attention at a broader level. The International Energy Agency (IEA), for instance, has forecasted that electricity consumption from data centers, AI, and cryptocurrency could double by 2026. By that time, data centers’ electricity use could exceed 1,000 terawatt-hours, equivalent to Japan’s total electricity consumption. Goldman Sachs also flagged the growing energy demand, attributing it partly to AI. The firm projects that global data center electricity use could more than double by 2030, fueled by AI and other factors. ROI Implications of Energy Costs The extent to which rising energy consumption will affect GenAI’s return on investment (ROI) remains unclear. For now, the perceived benefits of GenAI seem to outweigh concerns about energy costs. Most businesses have not been directly impacted, as these costs tend to affect hyperscalers more. For instance, Google reported a 13% increase in greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, largely due to AI-related energy demands in its data centers. Scott Likens, PwC’s global chief AI engineering officer, noted that while energy consumption isn’t a barrier to adoption, it should still be factored into long-term strategies. “You don’t take it for granted. There’s a cost somewhere for the enterprise,” he said. Energy Costs: Hidden but Present Although energy expenses may not appear on an enterprise’s invoice, they are still present. Generative AI’s energy consumption is tied to both model training and inference—each time a user makes a query, the system expends energy to generate a response. While the energy used for individual queries is minor, the cumulative effect across millions of users can add up. How these costs are passed to customers is somewhat opaque. Licensing fees for enterprise versions of GenAI products likely include energy costs, spread across the user base. According to PwC’s Likens, the costs associated with training models are shared among many users, reducing the burden on individual enterprises. On the inference side, GenAI vendors charge for tokens, which correspond to computational power. Although increased token usage signals higher energy consumption, the financial impact on enterprises has so far been minimal, especially as token costs have decreased. This may be similar to buying an EV to save on gas but spending hundreds and losing hours at charging stations. Energy as an Indirect Concern While energy costs haven’t been top-of-mind for GenAI adopters, they could indirectly address the issue by focusing on other deployment challenges, such as reducing latency and improving cost efficiency. Newer models, such as OpenAI’s GPT-4o mini, are more economical and have helped organizations scale GenAI without prohibitive costs. Organizations may also use smaller, fine-tuned models to decrease latency and energy consumption. By adopting multimodel approaches, enterprises can choose models based on the complexity of a task, optimizing for both speed and energy efficiency. The Data Center Dilemma As enterprises consider GenAI’s energy demands, data centers face the challenge head-on, investing in more sophisticated cooling systems to handle the heat generated by AI workloads. According to the Dell’Oro Group, the data center physical infrastructure market grew in the second quarter of 2024, signaling the start of the “AI growth cycle” for infrastructure sales, particularly thermal management systems. Liquid cooling, more efficient than air cooling, is gaining traction as a way to manage the heat from high-performance computing. This method is expected to see rapid growth in the coming years as demand for AI workloads continues to increase. Nuclear Power and AI Energy Demands To meet AI’s growing energy demands, some hyperscalers are exploring nuclear energy for their data centers. AWS, Google, and Microsoft are among the companies exploring this option, with AWS acquiring a nuclear-powered data center campus earlier this year. Nuclear power could help these tech giants keep pace with AI’s energy requirements while also meeting sustainability goals. I don’t know. It seems like if you akin AI accessibility to more nuclear power plants you would lose a lot of fans. As GenAI continues to evolve, both energy costs and efficiency are likely to play a greater role in decision-making. PwC has already begun including carbon impact as part of its GenAI value framework, which assesses the full scope of generative AI deployments. “The cost of carbon is in there, so we shouldn’t ignore it,” Likens said. Generative AI Energy Consumption Rises 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

October 18, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Google, Technology

18Oct

GPUs and AI Development

Graphics processing units (GPUs) have become widely recognized due to their growing role in AI development. However, a lesser-known but critical technology is also gaining attention: high-bandwidth memory (HBM). HBM is a high-density memory designed to overcome bottlenecks and maximize data transfer speeds between storage and processors. AI chipmakers like Nvidia rely on HBM for its superior bandwidth and energy efficiency. Its placement next to the GPU’s processor chip gives it a performance edge over traditional server RAM, which resides between storage and the processing unit. HBM’s ability to consume less power makes it ideal for AI model training, which demands significant energy resources. However, as the AI landscape transitions from model training to AI inferencing, HBM’s widespread adoption may slow. According to Gartner’s 2023 forecast, the use of accelerator chips incorporating HBM for AI model training is expected to decline from 65% in 2022 to 30% by 2027, as inferencing becomes more cost-effective with traditional technologies. How HBM Differs from Other Memory HBM shares similarities with other memory technologies, such as graphics double data rate (GDDR), in delivering high bandwidth for graphics-intensive tasks. But HBM stands out due to its unique positioning. Unlike GDDR, which sits on the printed circuit board of the GPU, HBM is placed directly beside the processor, enhancing speed by reducing signal delays caused by longer interconnections. This proximity, combined with its stacked DRAM architecture, boosts performance compared to GDDR’s side-by-side chip design. However, this stacked approach adds complexity. HBM relies on through-silicon via (TSV), a process that connects DRAM chips using electrical wires drilled through them, requiring larger die sizes and increasing production costs. According to analysts, this makes HBM more expensive and less efficient to manufacture than server DRAM, leading to higher yield losses during production. AI’s Demand for HBM Despite its manufacturing challenges, demand for HBM is surging due to its importance in AI model training. Major suppliers like SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron have expanded production to meet this demand, with Micron reporting that its HBM is sold out through 2025. In fact, TrendForce predicts that HBM will contribute to record revenues for the memory industry in 2025. The high demand for GPUs, especially from Nvidia, drives the need for HBM as AI companies focus on accelerating model training. Hyperscalers, looking to monetize AI, are investing heavily in HBM to speed up the process. HBM’s Future in AI While HBM has proven essential for AI training, its future may be uncertain as the focus shifts to AI inferencing, which requires less intensive memory resources. As inferencing becomes more prevalent, companies may opt for more affordable and widely available memory solutions. Experts also see HBM following the same trajectory as other memory technologies, with continuous efforts to increase bandwidth and density. The next generation, HBM3E, is already in production, with HBM4 planned for release in 2026, promising even higher speeds. Ultimately, the adoption of HBM will depend on market demand, especially from hyperscalers. If AI continues to push the limits of GPU performance, HBM could remain a critical component. However, if businesses prioritize cost efficiency over peak performance, HBM’s growth may level off. 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

October 18, 2024in Data, Technology

16Oct

NYT Issues Cease-and-Desist Letter to Perplexity AI

NYT Issues Cease-and-Desist Letter to Perplexity AI Over Alleged Unauthorized Content Use The New York Times (NYT) has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity AI, accusing the AI-powered search startup of using its content without permission. This move marks the second time the NYT has confronted a company for allegedly misappropriating its material. According to reports, the Times claims Perplexity is accessing and utilizing its content to generate summaries and other outputs, actions it argues infringe on copyright laws. The startup now has two weeks to respond to the accusations. A Growing Pattern of Tensions Perplexity AI is not the only publisher-facing scrutiny. In June, Forbes threatened legal action against the company, alleging “willful infringement” by using its text and images. In response, Perplexity launched the Perplexity Publishers’ Program, a revenue-sharing initiative that collaborates with publishers like Time, Fortune, and The Texas Tribune. Meanwhile, the NYT remains entangled in a separate lawsuit with OpenAI and its partner Microsoft over alleged misuse of its content. A Strategic Legal Approach The NYT’s decision to issue a cease-and-desist letter instead of pursuing an immediate lawsuit signals a calculated move. “Cease-and-desist approaches are less confrontational, less expensive, and faster,” said Sarah Kreps, a professor at Cornell University. This method also opens the door for negotiation, a pragmatic step given the uncharted legal terrain surrounding generative AI and copyright law. Michael Bennett, a responsible AI expert from Northeastern University, echoed this view, suggesting that the cease-and-desist approach positions the Times to protect its intellectual property while maintaining leverage in ongoing legal battles. If the NYT wins its case against OpenAI, Bennett added, it could compel companies like Perplexity to enter financial agreements for content use. However, if the case doesn’t favor the NYT, the publisher risks losing leverage. The letter also serves as a warning to other AI vendors, signaling the NYT’s determination to safeguard its intellectual property. Perplexity’s Defense: Facts vs. Expression Perplexity AI has countered the NYT’s claims by asserting that its methods adhere to copyright laws. “We aren’t scraping data for building foundation models but rather indexing web pages and surfacing factual content as citations,” the company stated. It emphasized that facts themselves cannot be copyrighted, drawing parallels to how search engines like Google operate. Kreps noted that Perplexity’s approach aligns closely with other AI platforms, which typically index pages to provide factual answers while citing sources. “If Perplexity is culpable, then the entire AI industry could be held accountable,” she said, contrasting Perplexity’s citation-based model with platforms like ChatGPT, which often lack transparency about data sources. The Crux of the Copyright Argument The NYT’s cease-and-desist letter centers on the distinction between facts and the creative expression of facts. While raw facts are not protected under copyright, the NYT claims that its specific interpretation and presentation of those facts are. Vincent Allen, an intellectual property attorney, explained that if Perplexity is scraping data and summarizing articles, it may involve making unauthorized copies of copyrighted content, strengthening the NYT’s claims. “This is a big deal for content providers,” Allen said, “as they want to ensure they’re compensated for their work.” Implications for the AI Industry The outcome of this dispute could set a precedent for how AI platforms handle content generated by publishers. If Perplexity’s practices are deemed infringing, it could reshape the operational models of similar AI vendors. At the heart of the debate is the balance between fostering innovation in AI and protecting intellectual property, a challenge that will likely shape the future of generative AI and its relationship with content creators. 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

October 16, 2024in Data, Generative AI, Google, Laws

15Oct

The State of AI

The State of AI: How We Got Here (and What’s Next) Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from the realm of science fiction into a transformative force reshaping industries and lives around the world. But how did AI develop into the technology we know today, and where is it headed next? At Dreamforce, two of Salesforce’s leading minds in AI—Chief Scientist Silvio Savarese and Chief Futurist Peter Schwartz—offered insights into AI’s past, present, and future. How We Got Here: The Evolution of AI AI’s roots trace back decades, and its journey has been defined by cycles of innovation and setbacks. Peter Schwartz, Salesforce’s Chief Futurist, shared a firsthand perspective on these developments. Having been involved in AI since the 1970s, Schwartz witnessed the first “AI winter,” a period of reduced funding and interest due to the immense challenges of understanding and replicating the human brain. In the 1990s and early 2000s, AI shifted from attempting to mimic human cognition to adopting data-driven models. This new direction opened up possibilities beyond the constraints of brain-inspired approaches. By the 2010s, neural networks re-emerged, revolutionizing AI by enabling systems to process raw data without extensive pre-processing. Savarese, who began his AI research during one of these challenging periods, emphasized the breakthroughs in neural networks and their successor, transformers. These advancements culminated in large language models (LLMs), which can now process massive datasets, generate natural language, and perform tasks ranging from creating content to developing action plans. Today, AI has progressed to a new frontier: large action models. These systems go beyond generating text, enabling AI to take actions, adapt through feedback, and refine performance autonomously. Where We Are Now: The Present State of AI The pace of AI innovation is staggering. Just a year ago, discussions centered on copilots—AI systems designed to assist humans. Now, the conversation has shifted to autonomous AI agents capable of performing complex tasks with minimal human oversight. Peter Schwartz highlighted the current uncertainties surrounding AI, particularly in regulated industries like banking and healthcare. Leaders are grappling with questions about deployment speed, regulatory hurdles, and the broader societal implications of AI. While many startups in the AI space will fail, some will emerge as the giants of the next generation. Salesforce’s own advancements, such as the Atlas Reasoning Engine, underscore the rapid progress. These technologies are shaping products like Agentforce, an AI-powered suite designed to revolutionize customer interactions and operational efficiency. What’s Next: The Future of AI According to Savarese, the future lies in autonomous AI systems, which include two categories: The Road Ahead As AI continues to evolve, it’s clear that its potential is boundless. However, the path forward will require careful navigation of ethical, regulatory, and practical challenges. The key to success lies in innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to creating systems that enhance human capabilities. For Salesforce, the journey has only just begun. With groundbreaking technologies and visionary leadership, the company is not just predicting the future of AI—it’s creating it. The State of AI. 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

October 15, 2024in Artificial Intelligence, Data, Salesforce, Technology

12Oct

Salesforce AI Introduces SFR-Judge

Salesforce AI Introduces SFR-Judge: A Family of Three Evaluation Models with 8B, 12B, and 70B Parameters, Powered by Meta Llama 3 and Mistral NeMO The rapid development of large language models (LLMs) has transformed natural language processing, making the need for accurate evaluation of these models more critical than ever. Traditional human evaluations, while effective, are time-consuming and impractical for the fast-paced evolution of AI models. Salesforce AI Introduces SFR-Judge. To address this, Salesforce AI Research has introduced SFR-Judge, a family of LLM-based judge models designed to revolutionize how AI outputs are evaluated. Built using Meta Llama 3 and Mistral NeMO, the SFR-Judge family includes models with 8 billion (8B), 12 billion (12B), and 70 billion (70B) parameters. These models are designed to handle evaluation tasks such as pairwise comparisons, single ratings, and binary classifications, streamlining the evaluation process for AI researchers. Overcoming Limitations in Traditional Judge Models Traditional LLMs used for evaluation often suffer from biases such as position bias (favoring responses based on their order) and length bias (preferring longer responses regardless of their accuracy). SFR-Judge addresses these issues by leveraging Direct Preference Optimization (DPO), a training method that enables the model to learn from both positive and negative examples, reducing bias and ensuring more consistent and accurate evaluations. Performance and Benchmarking SFR-Judge has been rigorously tested across 13 benchmarks covering three key evaluation tasks. It outperformed existing judge models, including proprietary models like GPT-4o, achieving top performance on 10 of the 13 benchmarks. Notably, on the RewardBench leaderboard, SFR-Judge achieved a 92.7% accuracy, marking a new high in LLM-based evaluation and demonstrating its potential not only as an evaluation tool but also as a reward model for reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) scenarios. Innovative Training Approach The SFR-Judge models were trained using three distinct data formats: These diverse data formats allow SFR-Judge to generate well-rounded, accurate evaluations, making it a more reliable and robust tool for model assessment. Bias Mitigation and Robustness SFR-Judge was tested on EvalBiasBench, a benchmark designed to measure six types of bias. The results demonstrated significantly lower bias levels compared to competing models, along with high consistency in pairwise order comparisons. This robustness ensures that SFR-Judge’s evaluations remain stable, even when the order of responses is altered, making it a scalable and reliable alternative to human annotation. Key Takeaways: Conclusion Salesforce AI Research’s introduction of SFR-Judge represents a breakthrough in the automated evaluation of large language models. By incorporating Direct Preference Optimization and a diverse training approach, SFR-Judge sets a new standard for accuracy, bias reduction, and consistency. Its ability to provide detailed feedback and adapt to various evaluation tasks makes it a powerful tool for the AI community, streamlining the process of LLM assessment and setting the stage for future advancements in AI evaluation. 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

October 12, 2024in Data, Salesforce

11Oct

Nvidia and Salesforce

Salesforce and Nvidia have announced a groundbreaking collaboration to push the boundaries of AI, transforming both customer and employee experiences. Redefining AI in Enterprise Software As businesses worldwide face the complexities and costs of integrating AI into their operations, Salesforce and Nvidia are stepping in with a strategic partnership designed to redefine AI capabilities. This collaboration merges Salesforce’s extensive CRM and enterprise software expertise with Nvidia’s advanced AI and high-performance computing technologies. The goal is to create a new generation of AI agents and avatars that can operate autonomously, grasp complex business contexts, and engage with humans in a more natural, intuitive manner. Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO of Salesforce, states: “Together with Nvidia, we’re spearheading the third wave of the AI revolution—moving beyond copilots to a seamless integration of humans and intelligent agents driving customer success.” Enhancing Salesforce’s Platform The partnership focuses on integrating Nvidia’s accelerated computing and AI software to enhance Salesforce’s platform performance. Key to this effort is the optimization of Salesforce Data Cloud, which harmonizes structured and unstructured customer data in real time. Nvidia’s full-stack accelerated computing platform will significantly increase compute resources, leading to faster insights and improved AI performance across Salesforce’s offerings. AI-Powered Avatars and Beyond A major innovation from this collaboration is the development of AI-powered avatars. By combining Nvidia ACE, a suite of digital human technologies, with Salesforce’s new Agentforce platform, the companies aim to create more engaging, human-like experiences for interactions with customers and employees. These avatars will leverage multi-modal AI models for speech recognition, text-to-speech, and contextual visual responses, potentially revolutionizing business communication. Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang envisions a future where “every company, every job will be enhanced by a wide range of AI agents—assistants that will transform how we work.” He adds, “Nvidia and Salesforce are uniting our technologies to accelerate the development of AI agents, supercharging productivity for companies.” Transforming Business Operations The Salesforce-Nvidia partnership is more than a technological alliance; it’s a strategic move to meet the increasing demand for AI-driven enterprise solutions. The collaboration positions both companies at the forefront of the AI revolution in enterprise software, aiming to reshape how businesses interact with customers and manage their operations. Key facts include: Real-World Applications The potential applications of this technology are extensive. For example: Looking Ahead As Salesforce and Nvidia’s partnership unfolds, it promises not only technological advancements but a fundamental shift in how businesses leverage AI for growth, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Marc Benioff highlights the potential: “By combining Nvidia’s AI platform with Agentforce, we’re amplifying AI performance and creating dynamic digital avatars, delivering more engaging, intelligent, and immersive customer experiences than ever before.” This collaboration is set to lead the third wave of the AI revolution, integrating humans and intelligent agents to drive unprecedented customer 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

October 11, 2024in Agentforce Platform, Data, Enterprise, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud, Technology

08Oct

Set Up Salesforce and Slack Integration

Set Up Salesforce and Slack Integration for Sales Elevate and Salesforce Channels To use Sales Elevate or Salesforce channels in Slack, establish a connection between Salesforce and Slack. This setup allows your team members to access these features seamlessly. You can map Salesforce accounts to corresponding Slack accounts to ensure the right individuals access the right tools. Note: You must have Salesforce Admin permissions to complete the setup in Salesforce. Prepare Your Salesforce Org Before connecting Salesforce and Slack, complete the following steps in Salesforce: Step 1: Create and Configure a Salesforce Integration User An Integration User ensures proper permissions and prevents disconnection if your personal Salesforce account is deactivated or updated. Step 2: Allow the Integration User to Bypass SSO If your organization uses single sign-on (SSO), you’ll need to bypass it for the Integration User to complete authentication. Step 3: Assign Permissions to the Integration User Grant the Integration User access to Salesforce objects and fields used in Slack. Connect Slack to Salesforce With your Integration User ready, connect your Salesforce org to Slack. You can connect up to 25 Salesforce orgs to Slack. Step 1: Request a Connection in Slack Step 2: Approve the Connection in Salesforce Step 3: Activate the Connection in Slack Manually Map Member Accounts If you opt out of automatic mapping, you can manually map accounts: Remove Member Mapping Salesforce Admins can remove and reset member mappings: Assign Access to Salesforce Tools in Slack Manage access to Sales Elevate and Salesforce channels by assigning the Slack Elevate User permission set in Salesforce: This configuration streamlines collaboration, giving your team access to powerful Salesforce tools directly in Slack. 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

October 8, 2024in Salesforce

07Oct

Salesforce Agentforce Integration

The rise of AI-powered solutions is transforming customer service, support, and automation. For organizations such as nonprofits, national associations, and large enterprises, delivering seamless customer experiences has become crucial. Salesforce’s Agentforce, a next-generation conversational AI tool, plays a vital role in this transformation. Designed to elevate customer support and interaction, Agentforce provides an intelligent and scalable solution for integrating AI chatbots into content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Drupal, and HubSpot. Salesforce Agentforce Integration. In this detailed feature review, we will dive into the extensive capabilities of Salesforce Agentforce, analyzing its role as a conversational tool, its technical requirements, and the benefits it provides for nonprofits, national associations, and businesses. We’ll also compare its applications across various CMS platforms like Drupal, WordPress, and HubSpot, exploring its potential as a powerful AI assistant for website automation and customer interaction. Salesforce Agentforce: A Technical Perspective Salesforce Agentforce is an advanced AI-driven conversational assistant that seamlessly integrates into the Salesforce environment. By tapping into Salesforce CRM’s vast data resources, Agentforce serves as an intelligent interface, automating everything from initial customer inquiries to more personalized interactions. Utilizing natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning, it continually refines responses and scales interactions, making it an indispensable tool for organizations aiming to enhance customer service workflows. Agentforce integrates smoothly with Salesforce Service Cloud, automating both live chat support and chatbot responses. Additionally, it can connect with third-party platforms, including popular CMS solutions like WordPress, Drupal, and HubSpot, allowing organizations to centralize customer service operations in one interface. Core Features and Technical Architecture of Agentforce Natural Language Understanding (NLU) and Processing (NLP) Agentforce’s NLP capabilities are its backbone, allowing it to understand complex human language and respond contextually. This empowers it to manage initial inquiries as well as more sophisticated support requests. Agentforce’s NLU also enables it to work across different languages, dialects, and industry-specific terminology, making it particularly valuable for global organizations and national associations serving diverse audiences. Machine Learning for Continuous Improvement Agentforce’s machine learning feature enhances its ability to improve accuracy and understanding over time. Each interaction helps the chatbot evolve, making it more effective at delivering relevant, real-time responses. This model integrates directly with Salesforce’s data infrastructure, giving Agentforce access to historical data and interactions to offer highly personalized, context-aware answers. Deep Integration with Salesforce CRM As a Salesforce-native tool, Agentforce can harness CRM data in ways other AI tools cannot. By accessing customer histories, purchase data, and previous interactions, it creates personalized experiences that build customer trust. Nonprofits and associations can use this data to improve donor or member interactions, offering targeted support and outreach. Agentforce can also be tailored to retrieve specific datasets, such as an individual’s support history or ongoing service case updates. Cross-Platform Flexibility and API Integration Agentforce offers flexible APIs that enable integration with third-party systems, including CMS platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and HubSpot. This flexibility ensures that AI-powered chatbots can be deployed on organizational websites, providing a seamless experience for customers, donors, and members alike. Whether it’s a nonprofit using Drupal or a business on WordPress, Agentforce acts as the central hub for support and engagement, offering fluid interactions on top of your CMS. HubSpot users can further leverage Agentforce’s marketing features to align lead generation with personalized, chat-based interactions. Use Cases for Agentforce in Nonprofits, National Associations, and Businesses Nonprofit Organizations For nonprofits managing donor, volunteer, and beneficiary relationships, Agentforce offers scalable, automated support: National Associations National associations can use Agentforce to handle high volumes of inquiries from members and professionals: Businesses For service-based enterprises, Agentforce is essential for customer service: Salesforce Agentforce and CMS Integration: WordPress, Drupal, and HubSpot WordPress and Salesforce Agentforce Integration For WordPress users, Agentforce offers customizable chatbot widgets that enhance customer engagement, handle ecommerce inquiries, and integrate with WooCommerce for product support. Drupal and Agentforce Integration Drupal’s modular architecture allows Agentforce to automate membership management, provide multilingual support, and distribute content for nonprofits and associations. HubSpot and Agentforce Integration HubSpot users benefit from Agentforce’s ability to automate lead nurturing, sales and marketing workflows, and customer support, all while keeping HubSpot and Salesforce CRM data synchronized. Tectonic and Salesforce Agentforce Integration At Tectonic, we understand that adopting AI-powered solutions like Salesforce Agentforce is only the first step toward delivering exceptional customer experiences. We specialize in crafting, training, and implementing tailored AI chatbot solutions that enhance engagement, streamline processes, and drive growth, all while seamlessly integrating with your current website or mobile app. As a full-service digital strategy firm, Tectonic excels in integrating advanced tools like Salesforce Agentforce into platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and HubSpot, ensuring your automation strategies are executed with precision. From custom chatbot implementations to comprehensive digital strategy services, our team is dedicated to optimizing your website for engagement and lead generation. 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

October 7, 2024in Agentforce Platform, AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Salesforce, Salesforce Service Cloud

07Oct

AI All Grown Up

If you thought Salesforce had fully embraced AI, think again. The company has much more in store. AI All Grown Up and Salesforce is the educator! Alongside the announcement of the new Agentforce platform, Salesforce has teased plans to offer free premium instructor-led courses and AI certifications throughout 2025, reflecting a bold commitment to fostering AI skills and expertise. We’ve talked quite a bit over the last year about the need for AI education, and lo and behold here comes Salesforce to the rescue! AI All Grown Up Ah, they grow up so fast. Once just a baby cradeled in our arms with endless possibilities and potential. It was just like a year or so ago we heard of ChatGPT. Prior to that most people’s main exposure to artificial intelligence was their smart phones, which today we realize weren’t reall that smart. Generative, predictive and agentic AI have barreled down the pipeline increasing our vocabulary, and understanding, of what artificial intelligence can do. From generative content to sounds and images, AI continued to amaze us. Then predictive AI did our calculations faster than we could have imagined. Then agentic AI did nearly everything imaginable. AI All Grown Up. Like a very proud mentor of the process, I want to talk about Salesforce’s major contribution. Addressing the AI Skills Gap: Salesforce’s $50 Million Investment As the veritable plethora of AI tools rapidly expands, Salesforce is taking proactive steps to address the growing AI skills gap by investing $50 million into workforce upskilling initiatives. The company aims to ensure that businesses and individuals are prepared to utilize their new wave of AI tools effectively. While the full details have yet to be released, Salesforce has revealed that its premium AI courses and certifications will be made available for free via Trailhead by the end of 2025. This could mean certifications such as AI Associate and AI Specialist, which currently cost $75 and $200 respectively, may soon be offered at no cost. Gratis. Free, Salesforce has also mentioned “premium instructor-led training,” sparking speculation that AI-focused, instructor-led Trailhead Academy courses could become accessible to everyone in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expanding AI Education with Global AI Centers Salesforce’s AI upskilling push is part of a broader initiative to establish “AI Centers” across the globe. Following the opening of its first center in London in June, Salesforce is planning to launch additional AI hubs in cities like Chicago, Tokyo, Sydney, and even a pop-up center in San Francisco. These centers will host in-person premium courses and serve as gathering spaces for industry experts, partners, and customers. This initiative benefits not only the Salesforce ecosystem by increasing AI knowledge where expertise is scarce, but also aligns with Salesforce’s strategy of bringing AI-driven solutions to market through new products like Copilot Studio, Data Cloud, and the newly launched Agentforce platform. Agentforce: Salesforce’s Third Wave of AI On August 28, 2024, Salesforce introduced Agentforce, a suite of autonomous AI agents that marks a significant leap in how businesses engage with customers. Described as the “Third Wave of AI,” Agentforce goes beyond traditional chatbots, providing intelligent agents capable of driving customer success with minimal human intervention. What is Agentforce? Agentforce is a comprehensive platform designed for organizations to build, customize, and deploy autonomous AI agents across various business functions, such as customer service, sales, marketing, and commerce. These agents operate independently, accessing data, crafting action plans, and executing tasks without needing constant human oversight. It is like Artificial Intelligence just graduated highschool and is off to a world of new adventures and growth opportunities at college or university! Key Features of Agentforce: The Technology Behind Agentforce At the core of Agentforce is the Atlas Reasoning Engine, a system designed to mimic human reasoning. Here’s how it works: Customization Tools: Agent Builder Agentforce provides tools like Agent Builder, a low-code platform for customizing out-of-the-box agents or creating new ones for specific business needs. With this tool, users can: The Agentforce Partner Network Salesforce’s partner ecosystem plays a key role in Agentforce’s versatility, with contributions from companies like AWS, Google, IBM, and Workday. Together, they’ve developed over 20 agent actions available through the Salesforce AppExchange. As proud parents we watch our Artificial Intelligence child venture into the world making friends along the way. Learning social skills. Benefits and Impact of Agentforce Early Adopters and Success Stories Several companies are already benefiting from Agentforce: Availability and Pricing of Salesforce’s AI All Grown Up Agentforce for Service and Sales will be generally available on October 25, 2024, with some components of the Atlas Reasoning Engine launching in February 2025. Pricing starts at $2 per conversation, with volume discounts available. The Future of AI and Work Salesforce’s ambitious vision is to empower one billion AI agents with Agentforce by the end of 2025. This reflects their belief that the future of work will involve a hybrid workforce, where humans and AI agents collaborate to drive customer success. AI All Grown Up and We Couldn’t Be Prouder Our amazing AI child has graduated college and ventured out into the workforce. Agentforce vs. Einstein Bots: What’s the Difference? Conclusion Agentforce represents a major leap forward in AI-powered customer engagement. By providing autonomous, intelligent agents capable of managing complex tasks, Salesforce is positioning itself at the forefront of AI innovation. As businesses continue to explore ways to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction, Agentforce could redefine how organizations interact with customers and streamline their operations. If this is the Third Wave of AI, what will the fourth wave bring? Written by Tectonic’s Solutions Architect, Shannan Hearne Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business

October 7, 2024in Agentforce Platform, AI Tools, Data, Google, Mulesoft, Salesforce, Technology

05Oct

Generative AI for Match Commentary

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Companies are exploring the use of artificial intelligence for sports commentary, showcasing one of the many innovative applications of this technology in the sports arena. ABC7 reporter J.R. Stone recently got a firsthand look at IBM’s integration of Generative AI to analyze and enhance playing abilities during a demonstration at Dreamforce 2024 in San Francisco. This same technology has also been implemented at prestigious events like Wimbledon and the US Open. “This year marks the introduction of Generative AI for match commentary, which utilizes data collected during the games to create real-time analysis and match summaries,” explained Nick Otto from IBM. In a related segment, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff revealed a new AI system called “Agent Force,” while Senator Scott Wiener introduced a bill focused on AI safety. The AI tracks various metrics, including average ball and swing speeds, as well as performance on forehand and backhand shots. To put the technology to the test, Stone faced off against Otto in a ping-pong match, where Otto emerged victorious with a score of 11-7. After the match, the AI generated an entertaining summary: “Nick’s arm must have felt like a whirlwind, spinning the ball at an average speed of 8.45 mph. J.R. tried to keep up, but his 30 forehand shots and 5.56 mph swing speed were no match.” While the advancements in AI are exciting, UCLA Professor Ramesh Srinivasan emphasizes the need for caution. “This technology is both incredible and concerning because it raises questions about the future of human journalists and commentators,” he noted. 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

October 5, 2024in Artificial Intelligence, Data, Generative AI, Salesforce, Technology

03Oct

Agentforce Unveiled

Salesforce Unveils ‘Agentforce’ to Empower a Billion AI Agents by 2025 Salesforce has introduced Agentforce, a revolutionary suite of autonomous AI agents aimed at transforming service, sales, marketing, and commerce sectors. With Agentforce, companies can rapidly scale their operations, boost efficiency, and elevate customer satisfaction by leveraging intelligent agents that handle routine tasks and complex workflows. The Agentforce Atlas Reasoning Engine powers these agents, autonomously analyzing data, making decisions, and completing tasks. This engine enables organizations to easily build, customize, and deploy their own agents using intuitive low-code tools. In addition, the Agentforce Partner Network allows customers to integrate pre-built agents from industry leaders like AWS, Google, IBM, and Workday, offering even more flexibility. Real-world impact Companies like OpenTable, Saks, and Wiley are already deploying Agentforce within their existing systems to enhance workforce capabilities and scale operations. Agentforce works autonomously, retrieving the right data on demand, building action plans, and executing them without human intervention. However, when needed, it can seamlessly hand off tasks to human employees, providing an overview of interactions, customer details, and suggested next steps. For example, Wiley has reported a 40% increase in case resolution after implementing Agentforce to handle routine inquiries. During busy seasons, like back-to-school, Agentforce has helped Wiley streamline operations, freeing up employees to handle more complex cases. Saks is also leveraging Agentforce to elevate its personalized customer experiences, empowering employees with real-time insights to deliver exceptional service. A new era of AI-driven customer success Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff is confident that Agentforce represents the third wave of AI, surpassing traditional chatbots and copilots with its fully autonomous capabilities. “Agentforce is a revolutionary and trusted solution that seamlessly integrates AI across every workflow, embedding itself deeply into the heart of the customer journey. This means anticipating needs, strengthening relationships, driving growth, and taking proactive action at every touchpoint,” Benioff said. Unlike its predecessors, Agentforce operates independently, adapting to changing conditions using real-time data. Whether responding to a customer service inquiry, qualifying sales leads, or optimizing marketing campaigns, Agentforce makes timely, relevant decisions based on an organization’s custom settings. When more human oversight is required, the platform provides detailed summaries and recommendations to assist employees in making informed decisions. Agentforce’s scalability and future Salesforce’s ambitious goal is to empower one billion AI agents by the end of 2025. This bold vision stems from the understanding that 41% of employee time is often spent on repetitive, low-impact work, according to the Salesforce Trends in AI Report. By automating these tasks, Agentforce allows employees to focus on more strategic, high-value initiatives, creating a hybrid workforce that is more effective and adaptable. Benioff noted, “While others require you to DIY your AI, Agentforce offers a fully tailored, enterprise-ready platform designed for immediate impact and scalability. Our vision is bold, and this is what AI is meant to be.” As businesses worldwide continue to explore AI’s potential, Agentforce positions Salesforce as a leader in the next wave of AI innovation, where autonomous agents enhance every facet of business operations. With over 1,000 agents already active, the future of work is a dynamic blend of human expertise and AI-powered agents, enabling organizations to thrive in an increasingly competitive 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

October 3, 2024in Einstein 1 Platform, Salesforce Einstein, Salesforce Optimization

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