Pre-Dreamforce 2024 Roundup: Salesforce Unveils More AI Initiatives
As the tech world turns its attention to San Francisco for Dreamforce 2024, Salesforce has fired off a salvo of announcements that underscore its ambitions in the AI arena. From hands-on agent building to major educational investments, the CRM giant is positioning itself at the forefront of the AI revolution. Let’s break down the key revelations ahead of CEO Marc Benioff’s much-anticipated keynote tomorrow.
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Agentforce Launch Zone: DIY AI Agents Hit Dreamforce
Salesforce is transforming Moscone West into an AI playground with its Agentforce Launch Zone. Here, attendees can roll up their sleeves and build autonomous AI agents in minutes, experiencing firsthand the power of Salesforce’s new Agentforce suite.
Key takeaways:
- Over 1,200 customers have already signed up to create agent prototypes
- Agents can analyze data, determine actions, and seamlessly hand off to humans
- Salesforce’s audacious goal: help customers deploy one billion Agentforce agents by 2025
“Agentforce is leading the Third Wave of AI,” declared Marc Benioff, Salesforce’s Chair and CEO. “Our vision is bold: to help customers scale their workforces and augment their employees with one billion Agentforce agents by the end of 2025.”
Slack’s AI Overhaul: The New Work Operating System
Slack, Salesforce’s collaboration platform, is doubling down on AI with a suite of new features that aim to redefine workplace productivity.
Highlights include:
- Agentforce in Slack: Bringing AI-powered CRM insights directly into conversations
- Third-party AI agents: Partnerships with Adobe, Anthropic, Cohere, and others
- Enhanced Slack AI: New features for meeting notes, workflow automation, and search
- Salesforce channels: Bridging the gap between CRM data and Slack conversations
“Slack’s agent-powered work operating system is redefining what it means to work smarter, not just differently,” said Denise Dresser, CEO of Slack. “This isn’t just about getting work done. It’s about unlocking new productivity levels to drive results and move business forward for every team and department.”
$23 Million Boost for AI Education
Recognizing the critical need for AI literacy, Salesforce is investing $23 million in grants to U.S. school districts and global education nonprofits.
Key details:
- $13 million directed to middle and high schools across major U.S. cities
- Over $6 million specifically allocated to AI education and literacy programs
- An additional $3 million donation from Marc and Lynne Benioff for schools in Hawai’i
“To succeed in today’s workforce, people must build the skills to use technology effectively – and that starts in school,” explained Suzanne DiBianca, EVP and Chief Impact Officer at Salesforce.
Salesforce Ventures: $1 Billion Strong in AI
Salesforce’s venture capital arm is doubling its bet on AI innovation, announcing a new $500 million fund that brings its total AI investment to $1 billion over 18 months.
Notable points:
- Focus on high-growth companies and visionary founders in AI
- Portfolio already includes AI leaders like Anthropic, Cohere, and Hugging Face
- Emphasis on responsible AI development and deployment
“Values drive value, and we know trust and responsibility are good for the world—and good for business,” stated Paul Drews, Managing Partner of Salesforce Ventures.
Looking Ahead: Benioff’s Big Moment
As these announcements settle, the tech world eagerly awaits Marc Benioff’s keynote address tomorrow. With Salesforce clearly positioning itself as a leader in enterprise AI, Benioff is expected to paint a vivid picture of how these technologies will reshape the future of work.
Will he elaborate on the “Third Wave of AI” and Salesforce’s role in it? How will he address concerns about AI’s impact on jobs with the “Limitless Digital Workforce?” And what surprises might he have up his sleeve? Could there be a response to recent concerns about Trailblazers being fed up with AI?
One thing’s for certain: with these moves, Salesforce is sending a clear message that it intends to be at the epicenter of the AI revolution in enterprise software. Stay tuned for our coverage of Benioff’s address and deeper dives into these game-changing announcements as Dreamforce 2024 unfolds.
