Startup Archives - gettectonic.com
AI-Driven Healthcare
15Apr

AI is Revolutionizing Clinical Trials and Drug Development

Clinical trials are a cornerstone of drug development, yet they are often plagued by inefficiencies, long timelines, high costs, and challenges in patient recruitment and data analysis. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming this landscape by streamlining trial design, optimizing patient selection, and accelerating data analysis, ultimately enabling faster and more cost-effective treatment development. Optimizing Clinical Trials A study by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development estimates that bringing a new drug to market costs an average of $2.6 billion, with clinical trials comprising a significant portion of that expense. “The time-consuming process of recruiting the right patients, collecting data, and manually analyzing it are major bottlenecks,” said Mohan Uttawar, co-founder and CEO of OneCell. AI is addressing these challenges by improving site selection, patient recruitment, and data analysis. Leveraging historical data, AI identifies optimal sites and patients with greater efficiency, significantly reducing costs and timelines. “AI offers several key advantages, from site selection to delivering results,” Uttawar explained. “By utilizing past data, AI can pinpoint the best trial sites and patients while eliminating unsuitable candidates, ensuring a more streamlined process.” One compelling example of AI’s impact is Exscientia, which designed a cancer immunotherapy molecule in under 12 months—a process that traditionally takes four to five years. This rapid development highlights AI’s potential to accelerate promising therapies from concept to patient testing. Enhancing Drug Development Beyond clinical trials, AI is revolutionizing the broader drug development process, particularly in refining trial protocols and optimizing site selection. “A major paradigm shift has emerged with AI, as these tools optimize trial design and execution by leveraging vast datasets and streamlining patient recruitment,” Uttawar noted. Machine learning plays a crucial role in biomarker discovery and patient stratification, essential for developing targeted therapies. By analyzing large datasets, AI uncovers patterns and insights that would be nearly impossible to detect manually. “The availability of large datasets through machine learning enables the development of powerful algorithms that provide key insights into patient stratification and targeted therapies,” Uttawar explained. The cost savings of AI-driven drug development are substantial. Traditional computational models can take five to six years to complete. In contrast, AI-powered approaches can shorten this timeline to just five to six months, significantly reducing costs. Regulatory and Ethical Considerations Despite its advantages, AI in clinical trials presents regulatory and ethical challenges. One primary concern is ensuring the robustness and validation of AI-generated data. “The regulatory challenges for AI-driven clinical trials revolve around the robustness of data used for algorithm development and its validation against existing methods,” Uttawar highlighted. To address these concerns, agencies like the FDA are working on frameworks to validate AI-driven insights and algorithms. “In the future, the FDA is likely to create an AI-based validation framework with guidelines for algorithm development and regulatory compliance,” Uttawar suggested. Data privacy and security are also crucial considerations, given the vast datasets needed to train AI models. Compliance with regulations such as HIPAA, ISO 13485, GDPR, and 21CFR Part 820 ensures data protection and security. “Regulatory frameworks are essential in defining security, compliance, and data privacy, making it mandatory for AI models to adhere to established guidelines,” Uttawar noted. AI also has the potential to enhance diversity in clinical trials by reducing biases in patient selection. By objectively analyzing data, AI can efficiently recruit diverse patient populations. “AI facilitates unbiased data analysis, ensuring diverse patient recruitment in a time-sensitive manner,” Uttawar added. “It reviews selection criteria and, based on vast datasets, provides data-driven insights to optimize patient composition.” Trends and Predictions The adoption of AI in clinical trials and drug development is expected to rise dramatically in the coming years. “In the next five years, 80-90% of all clinical trials will likely incorporate AI in trial design, data analysis, and regulatory submissions,” Uttawar predicted. Emerging applications, such as OneCell’s AI-based toolkit for predicting genomic signatures from high-resolution H&E Whole Slide Images, are particularly promising. This technology allows hospitals and research facilities to analyze medical images and identify potential cancer patients for targeted treatments. “This toolkit captures high-resolution images at 40X resolution and analyzes them using AI-driven algorithms to detect morphological changes,” Uttawar explained. “It enables accessible image analysis, helping physicians make more informed treatment decisions.” To fully realize AI’s potential in drug development, stronger collaboration between AI-focused companies and the pharmaceutical industry is essential. Additionally, regulatory frameworks must evolve to support AI validation and standardization. “Greater collaboration between AI startups and pharmaceutical companies is needed,” Uttawar emphasized. “From a regulatory standpoint, the FDA must establish frameworks to validate AI-driven data and algorithms, ensuring consistency with existing standards.” AI is already transforming drug development and clinical trials, enhancing efficiencies in site selection, patient recruitment, and data analysis. By accelerating timelines and cutting costs, AI is not only making drug development more sustainable but also increasing access to life-saving treatments. However, maximizing AI’s impact will require continued collaboration among technology innovators, pharmaceutical firms, and the regulatory bodies. As frameworks evolve to ensure data integrity, security, and compliance, AI-driven advancements will further shape the future of precision medicine—ultimately improving patient outcomes and redefining healthcare. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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April 15, 2025in Artificial Intelligence, Data, Technology0 Comments
Databricks Tools
03Apr

Databricks Launches Lakeflow Connect to Simplify Enterprise Data Ingestion

San Francisco, [April 2, 2025] – Databricks has taken a major step toward streamlining enterprise data integration with the general availability of Lakeflow Connect, its new low-code/no-code connector system. The initial release features preconfigured integrations with Salesforce and Workday, with plans to expand support to additional SaaS platforms, databases, and file sources in the coming months. Simplifying the Data Ingestion Challenge Data ingestion—the process of moving data from source systems into analytics environments—has long been a complex, resource-intensive task for enterprises. Traditional approaches require stitching together multiple tools (such as Apache Kafka or CDC solutions) and maintaining custom pipelines, often leading to scalability issues and high operational overhead. Lakeflow Connect aims to eliminate these pain points by providing: “Customers need this data, but before Lakeflow Connect, they were forced to rely on third-party tools that often failed at scale—or build custom solutions,” said Michael Armbrust, Distinguished Software Engineer at Databricks. “Now, ingestion is point-and-click within Databricks.” Why Salesforce and Workday First? The choice of initial connectors reflects the growing demand for real-time, structured data to power AI and generative AI applications. According to Kevin Petrie, Analyst at BARC U.S., more than 90% of AI leaders are experimenting with structured data, and nearly two-thirds use real-time feeds for model training. “Salesforce and Workday provide exactly the type of data needed for real-time ML and GenAI,” Petrie noted. “Databricks is smart to simplify access in this way.” Competitive Differentiation While other vendors offer connector solutions (e.g., Qlik’s Connector Factory), Lakeflow Connect stands out through: “Serverless compute is quietly important,” said Donald Farmer, Principal at TreeHive Strategy. “It’s not just about scalability—rapid startup times are critical for reducing pipeline latency.” The Road Ahead Databricks has already outlined plans to expand Lakeflow Connect with connectors for: Though the company hasn’t committed to a timeline, Armbrust hinted at upcoming announcements at the Data + AI Summit in June. Broader Vision: Democratizing Data Engineering Beyond ingestion, Databricks is focused on unifying the data engineering lifecycle. “Historically, you needed deep Spark or Scala expertise to build production-grade pipelines,” Armbrust said. “Now, we’re enabling SQL users—or even UI-only users—to achieve the same results.” Looking further ahead, Petrie suggested Databricks could enhance cross-team collaboration for agentic AI development, integrating Lakeflow with Mosaic AI and MLflow to bridge data, model, and application lifecycles. The Bottom LineLakeflow Connect marks a strategic move by Databricks to reduce friction in data pipelines—addressing a key bottleneck for enterprises scaling AI initiatives. As the connector ecosystem grows, it could further solidify Databricks’ position as an end-to-end platform for data and AI. For more details, visit Databricks.com. Key Takeaways:✅ Now Available: Salesforce & Workday connectors✅ Serverless, governed, and scalable ingestion✅ Future integrations with Google Analytics, ServiceNow, and more✅ June previews expected at Data + AI Summit Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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April 3, 2025in Agentic AI, Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Google, Google Analytics, Salesforce0 Comments
ai model race
01Apr

AI Model Race Intensifies

AI Model Race Intensifies as OpenAI, Google, and DeepSeek Roll Out New Releases The generative AI competition is heating up as major players like OpenAI, Google, and DeepSeek rapidly release upgraded models. However, enterprises are shifting focus from incremental model improvements to agentic AI—systems that autonomously perform complex tasks. Three Major Releases in 24 Hours This week saw a flurry of AI advancements: Competition Over Innovation? While the rapid releases highlight the breakneck pace of AI development, some analysts see diminishing differentiation between models. The Future: Agentic AI & Real-World Use Cases As model fatigue sets in, businesses are focusing on domain-specific AI applications that deliver measurable ROI. The AI race continues, but the real winners will be those who translate cutting-edge models into practical, agent-driven solutions. Key Takeaways:✔ DeepSeek’s open-source V3 pressures rivals to embrace transparency.✔ GPT-4o’s hyper-realistic images raise deepfake concerns.✔ Gemini 2.5 focuses on structured reasoning for complex tasks.✔ Agentic AI, not just model upgrades, is the next enterprise priority. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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April 1, 2025in Agentic AI, Enterprise, Generative AI, Google0 Comments
Marketing Cloud Growth Edition
31Mar

HubSpot vs. Salesforce Marketing Cloud Growth

HubSpot vs. Salesforce Marketing Cloud Growth: Which Marketing Automation Platform is Right For You? EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to Marketing Cloud Growth being a new release, some of the SFMC data reflects Marketing Cloud Engagement as well. Salesforce and HubSpot are both powerful customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, but they cater to different needs and business sizes. Salesforce, with its extensive customization and robust integrations, is better suited for growing enterprises, while HubSpot is better suited for small to medium-sized businesses that don’t require modular, ease of growth solutions.  Salesforce is a leading CRM platform, largely preferred for its extensive suite of features and functionalities. It offers high-level customization tools and advanced predictive analytics. Therefore, Salesforce is ideal for growing businesses, complex sales organizations, and large enterprises with deeper needs for configurability and scalability.  HubSpot vs. Salesforce: A High-Level Comparison Beyond Features When organizations evaluate Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions, Salesforce and HubSpot frequently appear on their shortlists. While many online resources focus on feature-by-feature comparisons, this post takes a different approach—highlighting the key strategic differences between the two platforms. Why a Features-First Approach Isn’t Enough Editorial Note: We do not earn commissions from vendors covered on this site. Vendor Overviews Both Salesforce (founded 1999) and HubSpot (founded 2006) are leading CRM providers with strong market presence. Products & Evolution Marketing & Sales Dominance Key Differences to Consider 1. Scope & Complexity “HubSpot has a higher floor; Salesforce has a significantly higher ceiling.” — Reddit User 2. Native vs. Integrated Marketing 3. Consultant & App Ecosystems 4. Pricing Models 5. AI & Automation 6. Business Process Automation 7. User Experience (UX) Final Considerations Which is right for you? Before making a decision, evaluate your unique business needs—not just the platform differences. Investing in flexible CRM software improves efficiency through task automation and creates an invaluable information resource for your employees. Key Differences at a Glance Feature HubSpot Salesforce Marketing Cloud Growth Ideal Use Case Inbound marketing Omnichannel customer journeys and outbound sales and marketing communications, and inbound marketing Best for Small Business X Best for Mid-Market X Best for Enterprise X Software Categories Ranked #1 in 69 164 5 Star Customer Reviews 8260 15055 Positive Reviews of Ease of Use 1095 4674 All Salesforce plans let you send 5,000 email marketing campaign messages daily — a generous allowance we haven’t seen from any other provider. Here are some of the core capabilities of Salesforce Marketing Cloud: Salesforce has powerful APIs and a vast array of third-party integrations that can efficiently handle diverse business processes and requirements. Additionally, the CRM offers various tools and options for ease of use and rapid scaling. It is a reliable cloud solution that can help businesses dive deeper into data-driven decision-making to optimize sales and operations. Key Features in HubSpot Marketing Hub From automation features for attracting, nurturing, and converting leads to blogging, SEO, and ad management, HubSpot has some value to offer marketers while lacking the robust features of Marketing Cloud. Here are some of the core features of this solution: Customization and Flexibility HubSpot Salesforce Customization Custom objects, display information, basic API support, UI extensions, but with limitations Customizable sales view, standard tabs, record types, page layouts, cust fields, help, content, and business processes with in-depth customization for your business App integrations HubSpot App Marketplace for app integrations Extensive AppExchange library with more than 7000 apps Although HubSpot offers customization for display, layouts, and data models, there are limited options. The HubSpot App Marketplace also helps with swift app integrations. However, it can’t beat Salesforce in customization and flexibility.  With Salesforce, you get high-level customization features, allowing you to set up your data, websites, layouts, configurations, records, fields, interfaces, and several other options the way you want. The AppExchange platform offers ready-to-install third-party applications, building blocks, pre-built templates, scalable data solutions, guides, and other relevant resources for CRM processes.  Best for Pricing Salesforce wins because its entry-level plan is more feature-packed than HubSpot’s and providees 5,000 free daily emails. Additionally, if you desire more features, the price jump from Starter to Pro isn’t as jarring as HubSpot’s jump from Starter to Professional. Detailed Platform Comparison 1. Target Audience HubSpot excels for: Salesforce Marketing Cloud Growth is built for: 2. Core Capabilities HubSpot Strengths: SFMC Growth Advantages: This platform offers many marketing tools in one centralized place. They’re all part of two unique modules: Builders and Studios. Salesforce comes out ahead in the category of reporting and anlytics thanks to its comprehensive toolset and visually appealing dashboards. The AI-powered Einstein tool and its predictive anlaytics and decision-making support add real value. 3. Implementation Factor HubSpot SFMC Growth Setup Time 36 days 17 days Training Needed 10-20 hours 15-20 hours HubSpot can build customized onboarding plans that are aligned with specific business goals. It extends technical and strategic guidance to help users at every step. Moreover, the HubSpot academy further helps with implementation strategies and continuous support through unlimited access to onboarding content, playlists, boot camps, and communities. For smoother onboarding, Salesforce offers detailed product documentation, demos, and learning resources. Its extensive self-help portal and user community make it even easier to onboard new customers. The Trailhead training system is a go-to resource for exploring Salesforce and caters to learners at all levels and roles. Key Takeaway: HubSpot offers a better user experience and ensures smoother onboarding. However, businesses willing to invest time and resources in understanding functionalities and enhancing their workforce skills with proper training can go with Salesforce. 4. AI & Automation HubSpot AI: Salesforce Einstein: User Experience Reviews Cons of HubSpot Decision Guide Choose HubSpot if you: Choose SFMC Growth if you: The Bottom Line Long-term scalability: Which platform better supports growth and complexity HubSpot allows businesses to expand their operations with increasing users, marketing intact tiers, unlimited workflow automation, and other add-ons. These options are best for startups and small-scale businesses. However, it lacks the advanced customization, analytics, and reporting features required for complex business needs. Salesforce is a top-tier CRM tool that

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March 31, 2025in Enterprise, Marketing Automation, Salesforce, Salesforce Einstein, Salesforce Marketing Cloud0 Comments
agetnforce for nonprofits
21Mar

Agentforce is 16x Faster and 75% More Accurate Than DIY

You are 2x more likely to launch your agents when working with a Salesforce partner, like Tectonic. Agentic AI is creating a digitial labor revolution. Human-only Workforce: Humans with Agents Your digital workforce requires more than a large language model. Data Apps Agents When you can bring all these tools together in a big, trusted, unified, and open platform you achieve: Adoption is the key to growth, and your Salesforce partner creates the unique unlock. Tectonic will set up a foundation for seamless integration of agents within your existing Salesforce ecosystem. We will professionally assess your agentic maturity and create a value proposition to keep you on track. Tectonic will help you innovate, protect, and grow. The steady state of priorities is innovate, protect, and optimize; as defined above. The crossroads you are at involve the new paradigm of AI Priorities. Where are you on the scale of Agentic Maturity: Reach out to Tectonic to determin your Agent Maturity and step up your game with AI Agents today. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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March 21, 2025in Agentic AI, Data, Enterprise, Salesforce0 Comments

AI in Airport Operations

VINCI Airports Leverages AI to Enhance Passenger Experience and Optimize Operations Across airside, landside, and terminal operations, VINCI Airports— a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub— is harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform passenger experiences, streamline airport flow, and reduce CO2 emissions. As an Innovation Center of Excellence for VINCI Airports, Lyon Airport is at the forefront of testing and implementing Generative AI (GenAI) to enhance customer interactions and operational efficiency. “AI is more than a buzzword—it’s a powerful tool for driving efficiency, improving interactions, personalizing services, and saving time,” says César Clary, Head of Digital & Innovation at Aéroports de Lyon/VINCI Airports. However, he emphasizes that AI should serve as a means to an end, not just a goal in itself. “We are making significant strides in leveraging AI to personalize services, improve efficiency, and reshape airport management.” AI-Powered Enhancements at Lyon Airport With over 10 million passengers passing through Lyon Airport each year, maintaining a cutting-edge customer experience is a priority. VINCI Airports has integrated AI-driven solutions into key customer touchpoints through in-house development and strategic partnerships: “The goal is to create more personalized and seamless interactions for travelers while supporting our staff,” Clary explains. By enabling natural language communication, real-time insights, and personalized recommendations, GenAI and Agentic AI are revolutionizing customer interactions and setting the stage for future service innovations. AI in Airport Operations Beyond customer service, AI is enhancing operational efficiency through: Overcoming Challenges in AI Implementation Despite AI’s vast potential, its adoption comes with challenges. Effective AI integration requires: Clary offers a strategic approach for AI adoption: “Spend time on algorithms and technology, but above all, invest in people, processes, and change management. Start small, demonstrate value, and educate your teams to ensure successful adoption.” With Lyon Airport leading the way, VINCI Airports is proving that GenAI is not just a futuristic concept but a transformative force in modern mobility. 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

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March 17, 2025in Agentic AI, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Generative AI, Salesforce Hospitality Travel and Transportation, Technology0 Comments
Rise of Agentic Commerce
14Mar

Rise of Agentic Commerce

The Rise of Agentic Commerce: How AI Agents Are Reshaping Ecommerce As online retailers experiment with agentic AI to enhance ecommerce, shoppers are already engaging with AI-driven experiences through subscriptions. Meanwhile, businesses are deploying AI agents behind the scenes to streamline their digital storefronts. In 2025, ecommerce platforms aren’t just pitching AI-powered recommendation engines—they’re embracing full-fledged agentic AI solutions. These intelligent agents are changing the way both retailers and consumers interact with digital shopping environments. Tech Giants and Startups Lead the Charge Agentic AI is becoming a key component in the ecommerce tech stack, joining machine learning, AI-powered search, and generative AI. Major players like Google and Meta have already integrated these capabilities, while Amazon and OpenAI are leveraging subscription models to attract users. Startups, as well as integrations for platforms like Shopify and Adobe’s Magento, are also fueling this AI-driven shift. Salesforce made a significant push for agentic AI at its 2024 Dreamforce event, showcasing its Agentforce capabilities. Luxury retailer Saks was an early adopter, using Agentforce to enhance personalization. Just months later, OpenAI introduced its Operator agent, with eBay, Etsy, and Instacart among its first users. But what exactly is agentic commerce, and how does it reshape online shopping? What Is Agentic Commerce? Agentic commerce refers to the use of AI agents in ecommerce. These agents, built on large language models (LLMs), go beyond chatbot-style interactions. They make decisions and execute actions autonomously, transforming how both consumers and merchants engage with online retail. For shoppers, this means AI-powered assistance throughout the learning, discovery, and purchasing journey. For retailers, agentic AI helps automate backend operations, streamlining tasks that previously required manual intervention. Consumers have already embraced AI chatbots in shopping experiences. Salesforce reported that AI-driven interactions boosted retail revenue during the 2024 holiday season. Adobe Analytics echoed this trend in a March 2025 survey, revealing that AI-assisted shopping led to higher engagement. “Online shoppers are seeing the benefits of AI-powered chat interfaces, which reduce the time needed to receive personalized information,” said Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights. “In Adobe’s survey, 92% of shoppers who used AI said it enhanced their experience, and 87% were more likely to use AI for larger or complex purchases.” Retailers are taking note. A February 2025 survey by Digital Commerce 360 found that AI investment is a top priority, with only 11.11% of ecommerce businesses planning to forgo AI implementation this year. AI-Powered Agents in Action Tech companies are responding to this growing demand. Adobe recently introduced its Experience Platform Agent Orchestrator, designed to manage AI agents across Adobe’s ecosystem and third-party platforms. Adobe’s research underscores the increasing role of AI in shaping customer engagement strategies. “This shift is redefining how businesses approach customer interactions,” Pandya noted. “AI agents are taking on more complex tasks and delivering highly personalized recommendations.” Retailers are already putting agentic commerce to the test. OpenAI’s Operator agent, for example, can autonomously navigate a web browser—searching, typing, and clicking to complete purchases. Users can ask Operator to order groceries, select gifts, or book tickets, streamlining transactions through AI-driven automation. Currently, Operator is available only to OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pro subscribers at $200 per month. However, OpenAI plans to expand access as it refines the technology. “We have a lot of work ahead, but we’re eager to put these tools into people’s hands,” said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman during an Operator demo. “More AI agents will be rolling out in the coming weeks and months.” The Subscription Model for AI-Powered Shopping Amazon is also bringing agentic AI to ecommerce with Alexa+. Priced at $19.99 per month—or free for Amazon Prime members—Alexa+ allows users to make purchases through Amazon.com, Whole Foods, Ticketmaster, and other retailers via voice commands. As these AI-powered tools gain traction, the pressure is on developers to deliver value that justifies their price tags. Whether through subscriptions or seamless integrations, the future of ecommerce is rapidly shifting toward intelligent, automated experiences. 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

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March 14, 2025in Agentic AI, AI Chatbots, Generative AI, Google, Salesforce, Technology0 Comments
11Mar

Salesforce Introduces AgentExchange

Salesforce Introduces AgentExchange: Empowering Businesses with AI-Driven Digital Labor Salesforce has unveiled AgentExchange, a marketplace embedded directly within the Salesforce platform, designed to simplify the way businesses, developers, and partners build, discover, and monetize AI-driven digital labor. This launch extends Salesforce’s Agentforce ecosystem, reinforcing the company’s commitment to accelerating enterprise adoption of advanced, role-based AI agents. Shifting to Role-Based AI AgentExchange arrives as industries shift from task-based automation to standardized, role-based AI agents. These intelligent agents leverage structured metadata to autonomously perform specific business roles, enhancing operational efficiency and scalability. Salesforce joins key industry players like Workday, SAP, and ServiceNow in shaping this emerging landscape. “Agentic AI is transforming the way businesses operate. Traditional software is rigid — it’s clicks, code, and logic. With AI agents, solutions can now observe, reason, and act autonomously, driving digital labor that expands organizational capabilities.” Adam Evans, EVP and GM of Salesforce AI Marketplace Capabilities and Partner Ecosystem AgentExchange launches with over 200 trusted partners, including Google Cloud, DocuSign, Box, and Workday, offering a variety of secure and compliant pre-built components such as: Real-World Use Cases AgentExchange supports solutions across various industries: Metadata-Driven Integration A core feature of AgentExchange is its metadata standardization, which defines agent capabilities, interfaces, and compliance requirements. This metadata-centric approach simplifies integration, reduces deployment complexity, and empowers organizations to adopt AI agents with confidence. Competitive Edge and CRM-Centric Focus Salesforce distinguishes AgentExchange with its strong focus on CRM-related, customer-facing solutions. While competitors like Workday emphasize HR automation and SAP covers broader ERP functions, Salesforce leverages real-time customer data and Slack integration to enhance front-office interactions. This CRM-centric focus equips businesses with tools to improve customer experience management, further differentiating Salesforce in the AI-driven digital labor space. Enabling an Open AI Ecosystem AgentExchange signals Salesforce’s commitment to fostering an open AI ecosystem, empowering partners, developers, and the Agentblazer community to build and monetize AI-driven solutions. The marketplace includes hundreds of vetted solutions designed to accelerate the adoption of intelligent digital labor across industries. Mark Stewart, CEO and President of Goodyear, shared his excitement about the platform: “AgentExchange offers ready-to-use solutions that enhance our speed, efficiency, and customer experience. This innovation aligns perfectly with Goodyear’s focus on delivering value to our customers.” Partner Innovations Key partners are already contributing to AgentExchange with impactful solutions: Driving the Future of Digital Labor Brian Landsman, EVP & GM of Global Business Development & Partnerships at Salesforce, connected AgentExchange to Salesforce’s AppExchange legacy: “When we launched AppExchange in 2005, we unlocked new value for our platform. AgentExchange now builds on that success, inviting partners, startups, and developers to shape the future of digital labor.” AgentExchange empowers organizations to seamlessly adopt trusted AI solutions, enabling developers to leverage partner expertise and integrate industry-specific capabilities directly within Salesforce. This innovative marketplace positions Salesforce as a leader in AI-driven digital transformation, driving efficiency, innovation, and growth in the evolving digital labor economy. Let Tectonic guide you though this exciting new release aimed to get you up and running even faster with Agentforce! Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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March 11, 2025in AgentExchange, Agentic AI, Data, Enterprise, Google, Salesforce0 Comments
10Mar

The Top Sales Software Tools to Power Your Team in 2025

For seasoned sales professionals, hitting ambitious targets is just part of the job. But in today’s hyper-competitive market, raw skill alone isn’t enough—you need the right sales software to maximize productivity, streamline lead management, and strengthen customer relationships. The difference between a good sales year and a record-breaking one often comes down to the tools your team uses. In this guide, we’ll break down the best sales software of 2025, highlighting key features that can transform your daily workflow. What Is Sales Software? Sales software automates and optimizes the sales process, helping businesses reduce costs, accelerate deals, and improve customer outcomes. From CRMs to AI-powered analytics, these tools empower sales leaders to:✔ Track rep performance & identify training gaps✔ Forecast revenue with greater accuracy✔ Manage leads efficiently across the pipeline✔ Automate repetitive tasks so teams focus on selling Core Functions of Sales Software Beyond CRMs, sales software includes conversation intelligence, incentive compensation management, and pipeline optimization platforms—each playing a critical role in a high-performing sales stack. Key Features to Look for in Sales Software Before choosing a solution, assess your team’s needs and budget. Here’s what to prioritize: ✅ Seamless Integrations – Must work with your existing CRM, HR, payroll, and ERP systems.✅ Advanced Analytics – Real-time dashboards and AI-driven insights for smarter decisions.✅ User-Friendly Design – If it’s hard to use, reps won’t adopt it.✅ Workflow Automation – AI-powered tools that cut manual tasks, giving reps 30%+ more selling time.✅ Robust Security – Protects sensitive customer and company data in a remote-work era.✅ Lead Tracking & Scoring – Identifies high-intent prospects to boost conversions. The 9 Best Sales Software Tools in 2025 Based on G2 & Capterra ratings (4+ stars), these platforms lead the pack: 1. Salesforce Sales Cloud Best for: AI-driven sales management✔ Lead prioritization with smart scoring✔ Autonomous AI agents for follow-ups✔ Real-time dashboards for performance tracking 2. Pipedrive Best for: Small businesses scaling fast✔ AI-generated email prompts✔ Pipeline visualization for deal tracking✔ Sales forecasting tools 3. Outreach Best for: Sales execution & engagement✔ AI-powered prospecting workflows✔ Win-loss analytics✔ Multi-channel sync (Email, LinkedIn, CRM) 4. HubSpot Sales Hub Best for: All-in-one CRM & automation✔ Customizable workflows✔ Built-in email tracking✔ User-friendly interface 5. SAP Sales Cloud Best for: Enterprise sales teams✔ Generative AI for forecasting✔ Mobile-friendly for field reps✔ Embedded analytics 6. Monday CRM Best for: Customizable workflows✔ AI auto-categorizes leads✔ Collaboration with marketing teams✔ Visual sales pipeline 7. Freshsales Best for: High-volume lead management✔ AI lead scoring✔ Email engagement tracking✔ Highly customizable 8. Apptivo Best for: SMBs needing flexibility✔ No-code automation✔ Duplicate lead prevention✔ Strong customer support 9. Zendesk Best for: Sales + customer service alignment✔ AI-assisted live chat✔ Omnichannel support✔ Seamless Salesforce integration How to Choose the Right Sales Software Before committing, ask:🔹 Does it integrate with our current stack?🔹 Will reps actually use it? (Ease of adoption is critical.)🔹 Can it scale with our growth?🔹 What’s the customer support like? Pro Tip: Get feedback from your sales team—what features would make their jobs easier? Final Thoughts The right sales software doesn’t just manage leads—it accelerates revenue, boosts rep productivity, and turns data into actionable insights. Whether you’re a startup or an enterprise, investing in the best tools ensures your team closes more deals, faster. Ready to upgrade your sales stack? Contact Tectonic today. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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March 10, 2025in Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Salesforce, Salesforce Sales Cloud0 Comments
The Evolving Role of the Chief Experience Officer
04Mar

Have We Got a Job for You

The Evolving Role of the Chief Experience Officer The chief experience officer (CXO) role varies significantly across different organizations, depending on which department owns customer experience—marketing, customer service, or an independent team. Many companies are still on their first CXO, and the position continues to evolve, particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes integral to customer experience (CX) strategies. According to new research from Deloitte, who surveyed 250 CX leaders across various industries, the CXO role is becoming increasingly technology-driven. AI-powered personalization and automation are reshaping CX, yet CXOs often face significant challenges, including limited influence and budget constraints. Defining the CXO’s Responsibilities The responsibilities of a CXO vary widely based on the organization’s structure. Some CXOs lead initiatives within contact centers, while others focus on product development or digital transformation. Regardless of their direct oversight, CXOs are typically accountable for the end-to-end customer journey, addressing pain points, and driving customer-centric strategies. Reporting structures also differ. Some CXOs report to the chief marketing officer (CMO), while others operate at the same level as the CMO or report directly to the CEO or board. Their role extends beyond operational oversight, requiring them to influence company-wide CX strategies, advocate for customer needs, and oversee the technology platforms that shape customer interactions. One of the critical challenges many CXOs face is acting as the customer’s voice in executive meetings, often playing the role of a contrarian to ensure that customer-centric decisions remain a priority. However, the ultimate goal is to create a company culture where customer advocacy is embedded across leadership, making the CXO’s role less about persuasion and more about strategic execution. Driving Change with Limited Resources CXOs often must drive meaningful change despite limited budgets and internal resistance. In the early stages of the role, proving the business value of CX improvements is imparative. Organizations are more likely to invest in CX when presented with compelling data demonstrating a direct impact on pipeline growth, customer lifetime value, and revenue. By leveraging data-driven insights, CXOs can build a strong business case for customer experience initiatives, making it easier to influence executive decisions and organizational behavior. Technology’s Role in Human-Centered CX With nearly every customer touchpoint mediated through technology, the CXO’s role has increasingly aligned with human-centered design principles. As organizations adopt AI and automation, CXOs ensure that these technologies serve a human purpose—reducing friction in customer interactions, streamlining employee workflows, and enhancing overall engagement. Rather than implementing technology for its own sake, CXOs focus on solving real customer problems, such as minimizing complexity in digital interactions, improving accessibility, and enhancing service responsiveness. This requires a balance between technological feasibility and human desirability, ensuring that innovations align with customer needs rather than complicate them. Emerging Technologies and Their Impact on CX The research highlights that CXOs must stay informed about emerging technologies, including edge computing, blockchain, and neuromorphic computing. These innovations have the potential to reshape CX by enabling real-time data processing, enhancing personalization, and providing new ways to understand customer behavior. As experience leaders, CXOs are constantly evaluating whether these advancements improve or hinder customer interactions. Many are approached by startups offering AI-driven solutions such as sentiment analysis and voice recognition. Their challenge is to discern which technologies genuinely enhance CX and which may introduce unnecessary complexity. Overcoming Organizational Resistance Many CXOs encounter frustration due to the slow pace of change within their organizations. Despite their best efforts, progress can be hindered by structural challenges, risk aversion, and competing priorities. However, perseverance remains key. As technology becomes increasingly powerful, so does the influence of executives who understand its impact on human experiences. Organizations that recognize the value of CX will continue to seek leaders who can quantify its business impact, develop strong use cases, and drive transformation. The growing emphasis on CX and AI-driven customer engagement suggests that demand for skilled CXOs will only increase. Those who can navigate the complexities of organizational change while championing human-centered innovation will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of customer experience. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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March 4, 2025in Artificial Intelligence, Data, Technology0 Comments
Generative AI in Marketing
28Feb

Generative AI in Marketing

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) continues to reshape industries, providing product managers (PMs) across domains with opportunities to embrace AI-focused innovation and enhance their technical expertise. Over the past few years, GenAI has gained immense popularity. AI-enabled products have proliferated across industries like a rapidly expanding field of dandelions, fueled by abundant venture capital investment. From a product management perspective, AI offers numerous ways to improve productivity and deepen strategic domain knowledge. However, the fundamentals of product management remain paramount. This discussion underscores why foundational PM practices continue to be indispensable, even in the evolving landscape of GenAI, and how these core skills can elevate PMs navigating this dynamic field. Why PM Fundamentals Matter, AI or Not Three core reasons highlight the enduring importance of PM fundamentals and actionable methods for excelling in the rapidly expanding GenAI space. 1. Product Development is Inherently Complex While novice PMs might assume product development is straightforward, the reality reveals a web of interconnected and dynamic elements. These may include team dependencies, sales and marketing coordination, internal tooling managed by global teams, data telemetry updates, and countless other tasks influencing outcomes. A skilled product manager identifies and orchestrates these moving pieces, ensuring product growth and delivery. This ability is often more impactful than deep technical AI expertise (though having both is advantageous). The complexity of modern product development is further amplified by the rapid pace of technological change. Incorporating AI tools such as GitHub Copilot can accelerate workflows but demands a strong product culture to ensure smooth integration. PMs must focus on fundamentals like understanding user needs, defining clear problems, and delivering value to avoid chasing fleeting AI trends instead of solving customer problems. While AI can automate certain tasks, it is limited by costs, specificity, and nuance. A PM with strong foundational knowledge can effectively manage these limitations and identify areas for automation or improvement, such as: 2. Interpersonal Skills Are Irreplaceable As AI product development grows more complex, interpersonal skills become increasingly critical. PMs work with diverse teams, including developers, designers, data scientists, marketing professionals, and executives. While AI can assist in specific tasks, strong human connections are essential for success. Key interpersonal abilities for PMs include: Stakeholder management remains a cornerstone of effective product management. PMs must build trust and tailor their communication to various audiences—a skill AI cannot replicate. 3. Understanding Vertical Use Cases is Essential Vertical use cases focus on niche, specific tasks within a broader context. In the GenAI ecosystem, this specificity is exemplified by AI agents designed for narrow applications. For instance, Microsoft Copilot includes a summarization agent that excels at analyzing Word documents. The vertical AI market has experienced explosive growth, valued at .1 billion in 2024 and projected to reach .1 billion by 2030. PMs are crucial in identifying and validating these vertical use cases. For example, the team at Planview developed the AI Assistant “Planview Copilot” by hypothesizing specific use cases and iteratively validating them through customer feedback and data analysis. This approach required continuous application of fundamental PM practices, including discovery, prioritization, and feedback internalization. PMs must be adept at discovering vertical use cases and crafting strategies to deliver meaningful solutions. Key steps include: Conclusion Foundational product management practices remain critical, even as AI transforms industries. These core skills ensure that PMs can navigate the challenges of GenAI, enabling organizations to accelerate customer value in work efficiency, time savings, and quality of life. By maintaining strong fundamentals, PMs can lead their teams to thrive in an AI-driven future. AI Agents on Madison Avenue: The New Frontier in Advertising AI agents, hailed as the next big advancement in artificial intelligence, are making their presence felt in the world of advertising. Startups like Adaly and Anthrologic are introducing personalized AI tools designed to boost productivity for advertisers, offering automation for tasks that are often time-consuming and tedious. Retail brands such as Anthropologie are already adopting this technology to streamline their operations. How AI Agents WorkIn simple terms, AI agents operate like advanced AI chatbots. They can handle tasks such as generating reports, optimizing media budgets, or analyzing data. According to Tyler Pietz, CEO and founder of Anthrologic, “They can basically do anything that a human can do on a computer.” Big players like Salesforce, Microsoft, Anthropic, Google, and Perplexity are also championing AI agents. Perplexity’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, recently suggested that businesses will soon compete for the attention of AI agents rather than human customers. “Brands need to get comfortable doing this,” he remarked to The Economic Times. AI Agents Tailored for Advertisers Both Adaly and Anthrologic have developed AI software specifically trained for advertising tasks. Built on large language models like ChatGPT, these platforms respond to voice and text prompts. Advertisers can train these AI systems on internal data to automate tasks like identifying data discrepancies or analyzing economic impacts on regional ad budgets. Pietz noted that an AI agent can be set up in about a month and take on grunt work like scouring spreadsheets for specific figures. “Marketers still log into 15 different platforms daily,” said Kyle Csik, co-founder of Adaly. “When brands in-house talent, they often hire people to manage systems rather than think strategically. AI agents can take on repetitive tasks, leaving room for higher-level work.” Both Pietz and Csik bring agency experience to their ventures, having crossed paths at MediaMonks. Industry Response: Collaboration, Not Replacement The targets for these tools differ: Adaly focuses on independent agencies and brands, while Anthrologic is honing in on larger brands. Meanwhile, major holding companies like Omnicom and Dentsu are building their own AI agents. Omnicom, on the verge of merging with IPG, has developed internal AI solutions, while Dentsu has partnered with Microsoft to create tools like Dentsu DALL-E and Dentsu-GPT. Havas is also developing its own AI agent, according to Chief Activation Officer Mike Bregman. Bregman believes AI tools won’t immediately threaten agency jobs. “Agencies have a lot of specialization that machines can’t replace today,” he said. “They can streamline processes, but

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February 28, 2025in AI Tools, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Generative AI, Google, Laws, Salesforce, Technology
Prompt Decorators
12Feb

Prompt Decorators

Prompt Decorators: A Structured Approach to Enhancing AI Responses Artificial intelligence has transformed how we interact with technology, offering powerful capabilities in content generation, research, and problem-solving. However, the quality of AI responses often hinges on how effectively users craft their prompts. Many encounter challenges such as vague answers, inconsistent outputs, and the need for repetitive refinement. Prompt Decorators provide a solution—structured prefixes that guide AI models to generate clearer, more logical, and better-organized responses. Inspired by Python decorators, this method standardizes prompt engineering, making AI interactions more efficient and reliable. The Challenge of AI Prompting While AI models like ChatGPT excel at generating human-like text, their outputs can vary widely based on prompt phrasing. Common issues include: Without a systematic approach, users waste time fine-tuning prompts instead of getting useful answers. What Are Prompt Decorators? Prompt Decorators are simple prefixes added to prompts to modify AI behavior. They enforce structured reasoning, improve accuracy, and customize responses. Example Without a Decorator: “Suggest a name for an AI YouTube channel.”→ The AI may return a basic list of names without justification. Example With +++Reasoning Decorator: “+++Reasoning Suggest a name for an AI YouTube channel.”→ The AI first explains its naming criteria (e.g., clarity, memorability, relevance) before generating suggestions. Key Prompt Decorators & Their Uses Decorator Function Example Use Case +++Reasoning Forces AI to explain logic before answering “+++Reasoning What’s the best AI model for text generation?” +++StepByStep Breaks complex tasks into clear steps “+++StepByStep How do I fine-tune an LLM?” +++Debate Presents pros and cons for balanced discussion “+++Debate Is cryptocurrency a good investment?” +++Critique Evaluates strengths/weaknesses before suggesting improvements “+++Critique Analyze the pros and cons of online education.” +++Refine(N) Iteratively improves responses (N = refinement rounds) “+++Refine(3) Write a tagline for an AI startup.” +++CiteSources Includes references for claims “+++CiteSources Who invented the printing press?” +++FactCheck Prioritizes verified information “+++FactCheck What are the health benefits of coffee?” +++OutputFormat(FMT) Structures responses (JSON, Markdown, etc.) “+++OutputFormat(JSON) List top AI trends in 2024.” +++Tone(STYLE) Adjusts response tone (formal, casual, etc.) “+++Tone(Formal) Write an email requesting a deadline extension.” Why Use Prompt Decorators? Real-World Applications The Future of Prompt Decorators As AI evolves, Prompt Decorators could: Conclusion Prompt Decorators offer a simple yet powerful way to enhance AI interactions. By integrating structured directives, users can achieve more reliable, insightful, and actionable outputs—reducing frustration and unlocking AI’s full potential. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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February 12, 2025in Artificial Intelligence, Technology
AI Market Heat
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

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January 23, 2025in Data, Enterprise, Technology
Agentforce Custom AI Agents
22Jan

Understanding AI Agents

Understanding AI Agents: How They Differ from Copilots and Assistants The AI landscape is evolving rapidly, with terms like AI agents, copilots, and assistants often used interchangeably. But what truly distinguishes them? This analysis clarifies their differences, maps them against real-world AI tools, and identifies gaps in today’s market. Why This Distinction Matters Understanding AI agent capabilities is crucial for: By 2025, AI agents are expected to become enterprise-ready, with the market projected to grow 45% annually, reaching $47 billion by 2030 (MarketsandMarkets). Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella even suggests that agentic applications could replace traditional SaaS. But what makes an AI tool an agent rather than just a copilot or assistant? Defining AI Agents, Copilots, and Assistants 1. AI Agents: Autonomous Goal-Seekers Gartner’s definition (2024): “AI agents are autonomous or semi-autonomous software entities that use AI techniques to perceive, make decisions, take actions, and achieve goals in their digital or physical environments.” Key capabilities:✔ Autonomy – Acts independently.✔ Goal-driven behavior – Works toward broader objectives.✔ Environmental interaction – Uses tools (actions), sensors (perception), and data retrieval.✔ Learning & memory – Adapts over time.✔ Proactivity – Acts on triggers, not just user commands. Example: Agentforce (Salesforce’s AI agent) autonomously creates marketing campaigns by analyzing CRM data. 2. AI Copilots: Collaborative Partners Microsoft’s perspective: “Copilots enhance decision-making by offering context-specific recommendations and work collaboratively with humans.” Key differences from agents: Example: Cursor (AI coding assistant) helps developers by auto-completing and refining code in real time. 3. AI Assistants: Task-Based Helpers Example: ChatGPT (basic version) answers questions but doesn’t autonomously execute tasks. The Agent-Copilot-Assistant Spectrum Feature AI Assistant AI Copilot AI Agent Autonomy ❌ No ⚠️ Semi ✅ Yes Goal-driven ❌ No ⚠️ Partial ✅ Yes Tools & Actions ❌ No ⚠️ Limited ✅ Yes Sensors/Triggers ❌ No ❌ No ✅ Yes Memory & Learning ❌ No ✅ Yes ✅ Yes Proactivity ❌ No ⚠️ Some ✅ Yes Current Market Gaps: Where AI Tools Fall Short Despite advancements, most AI tools today don’t fully meet agent or copilot criteria: 1. Most “Agents” Lack True Autonomy 2. Copilots Often Lack Memory 3. Assistants Dominate the Market Many popular AI tools (Grammarly, Canva AI, Remove.bg) are task-specific assistants, not true copilots or agents. The Future of AI Agents & Copilots Key Takeaways ✔ AI agents act autonomously, copilots collaborate, and assistants follow commands.✔ Today’s “agents” are semi-autonomous—true autonomy is still evolving.✔ Most AI tools are still assistants, with only a few (like GitHub Copilot) qualifying as copilots.✔ Memory, proactivity, and sensors are the biggest gaps in current AI offerings. For businesses and developers, this presents an opportunity: those who build true copilots and safe agents will lead the next wave of AI adoption. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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January 22, 2025in AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Salesforce

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