Salesforce has globally launched its new AI platform, Agentforce 360, across its cloud tools, aiming to help clients automate routine tasks and improve efficiency. This move comes as companies increasingly use AI agents to cut costs and stay competitive. Agentforce 360 connects people, agents, and data, and already serves 12,000 customers, including Reddit and OpenTable. The platform incorporates reasoning models from Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google Gemini, and features tools like Agent Script for flexible AI agent programming. Slack will also integrate conversational AI for data gathering and task completion. Meanwhile, in the financial sector, Lloyds Banking Group is investing in AI leadership training for its executives and senior managers, partnering with Cambridge Spark and the University of Cambridge to foster AI literacy and explore generative AI applications in banking. The bank is also establishing Bristol as its 'AI capital' in the UK. Beyond enterprise applications, concerns are rising about the impact of AI on children's critical thinking skills, with a Pew Research study indicating significant teen usage of AI for schoolwork. Experts suggest teaching AI literacy and critical thinking is crucial, while parents remain divided on AI's role in their children's education. The broader implications of AI are also being examined, with experts warning about potential complications in medical liability due to AI's complexity and the risks associated with agentic AI security, emphasizing the need for robust authentication and identity management. NVIDIA continues to expand its influence in the AI ecosystem through strategic venture investments in startups across various AI-focused sectors. In B2B sales, AI is transforming complex processes with guided selling, enhancing buyer discovery and automating quoting. However, a Highspot report indicates that AI adoption often fails sales teams without proper structural support and integration into go-to-market strategies.
Key Takeaways
- Salesforce has launched its AI platform, Agentforce 360, globally across its cloud tools to automate tasks, connecting people, agents, and data.
- Agentforce 360 utilizes reasoning models from Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google Gemini, and includes features for building and deploying AI agents.
- Slack will integrate conversational AI for data gathering and task completion as part of Salesforce's AI push.
- Lloyds Banking Group is training over 300 senior managers in AI, partnering with Cambridge Spark and the University of Cambridge.
- Experts warn that children's reliance on AI for homework may harm critical thinking skills, with a Pew study showing 26% of U.S. teens used ChatGPT for schoolwork in 2024.
- Parents are divided on AI use for children, with some seeing it as a learning tool and others concerned about its rapid evolution and potential mental health impacts.
- Experts highlight security risks with agentic AI, stressing the need for scalable frameworks, automated verification, and robust credentials.
- NVIDIA is expanding its AI influence through venture investments in startups across AI infrastructure, robotics, and autonomous driving.
- AI is transforming complex B2B sales with guided selling, enhancing discovery and automating quoting processes.
- A Highspot report indicates that AI adoption often fails sales teams without necessary structural support and integration into go-to-market strategies.
Salesforce launches Agentforce 360 AI to automate tasks
Salesforce introduced its new AI platform, Agentforce 360, globally across its cloud tools. This platform helps clients automate routine tasks, a key move as companies compete with advanced AI features. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff stated that Agentforce 360 connects people, agents, and data. The platform already has 12,000 customers, including Reddit and OpenTable. Additionally, Slack will now feature conversational AI for data gathering and task completion.
Salesforce Agentforce 360 AI platform aims to automate tasks
Salesforce launched its AI platform, Agentforce 360, across its tools on Monday. The platform is designed to help customers automate daily tasks and attract more users. This launch happens as software companies add new features to stay competitive, especially with clients using AI agents to cut costs. These agents can perform actions for users, making operations more efficient.
Salesforce Agentforce 360 AI platform automates tasks globally
Salesforce announced the global availability of its artificial intelligence platform, Agentforce 360, on Monday. The platform aims to help clients automate routine tasks. This launch occurs amid intense competition, with companies enhancing products using AI agents that can act on behalf of users to reduce costs. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff highlighted that Agentforce 360 unifies humans, agents, and data. Notable customers include Reddit, OpenTable, and Adecco, with Slack also integrating conversational AI for tasks.
Salesforce Agentforce 360 AI platform boosts automation
Salesforce launched its AI platform, Agentforce 360, across its cloud tools on Monday to help clients automate tasks. This move comes as software firms enhance products to compete in an industry where AI agents are used to lower costs. Salesforce is investing heavily in AI to improve customer service and sales. The company faces competition from rivals like Microsoft and Oracle in the cloud market.
Salesforce Agentforce 360 AI platform automates tasks worldwide
Salesforce announced on Monday that its artificial intelligence platform, Agentforce 360, is now available globally across its cloud tools to help clients automate tasks. This launch occurs as software companies enhance their products with advanced features amid rising competition. AI agents that can act on behalf of users are increasingly sought after to help control costs. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff stated that Agentforce 360 connects humans, agents, and data on one platform. The platform serves 12,000 customers, including Reddit, OpenTable, and Adecco, and its tool Slack will also feature conversational AI.
Salesforce unveils Agentforce 360 amid AI competition
Salesforce launched Agentforce 360, its latest AI agent platform, ahead of its Dreamforce conference. The new version includes tools for instructing AI agents via text, a platform for building and deploying agents, and enhanced infrastructure for Slack. A key feature, Agent Script, will enter beta in November, allowing more flexible AI agent programming. Agentforce 360 is powered by reasoning models from Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google Gemini. Salesforce also introduced Agentforce Builder for creating AI agents and expanded integration with Slack, aiming to make it an enterprise search tool.
Lloyds Bank trains top executives in AI
Lloyds Banking Group is putting its chief executive, Charlie Nunn, and around 300 senior managers through a six-month artificial intelligence training course. The program, developed with Cambridge Spark and the University of Cambridge, aims to teach leaders how to use generative AI to reimagine banking. Over 110 managers have already completed the 80-hour course, with the executive team expected to finish by the end of 2026. The bank is also establishing Bristol as its 'AI capital' in the UK, growing its tech team to nearly 1,300 specialists.
Lloyds Banking Group partners with Cambridge for AI leadership training
Lloyds Banking Group is providing AI training to over 110 senior leaders through a program called 'Leading with AI,' developed with Cambridge Spark and the University of Cambridge. This 80-hour course, launched in March, focuses on AI literacy and using generative AI in banking. The entire executive committee will complete the training by the end of 2026. The program includes hands-on sessions and masterclasses to explore AI use cases for market insights and customer relationship management. Lloyds has also named Bristol as its 'AI Capital' in the UK, with nearly 1,300 tech and data experts in the region.
Experts warn kids' reliance on AI may harm critical thinking
Experts are concerned that children's increasing use of AI chatbots like ChatGPT for homework and general interaction could negatively impact their critical thinking skills. A Pew Research study found 26% of U.S. teens used ChatGPT for schoolwork in 2024. Researchers suggest that relying on AI may lead to 'cognitive debt,' reducing neural coupling and creativity. MIT research scientist Nataliya Kosmyna warns that this convenience today could have future costs. Experts advise teaching children AI literacy and computer skills first, and limiting younger children's use of generative AI to encourage independent thought.
Parents divided on AI use for children
Parents have mixed reactions to children using AI tools like ChatGPT. Some, like Jared Miller, see supervised AI use as a way to spark creativity and learning, using it for quizzes and storytelling. Others worry about AI's rapid evolution making parental controls difficult and the potential for unhealthy relationships with AI companions. Experts suggest teaching children AI literacy and critical thinking skills is crucial. While some parents embrace AI for homework help, others restrict its use due to concerns about cheating and mental health impacts.
AI tool used to 'resurrect' grandmother, with poor results
A columnist experimented with an AI tool advertised on social media that promised a meaningful connection with a deceased loved one. The experience of using the AI to interact with his grandmother was described as 'awful.' The article explores the emotional and ethical implications of using AI to simulate conversations with those who have passed away.
FLOCK AI privacy redefines data security with decentralization
FLOCK AI privacy is advancing data security through decentralized AI, federated learning, and blockchain technology on the Flock.io platform. This approach keeps data on local devices, reducing breach risks. Key features include an AI Arena for developers, the FL Alliance for secure collaboration, and Moonbase for hosting AI models. Blockchain ensures transparent and immutable transactions, enhancing data integrity and trust. While praised for privacy, Flock.io faces scrutiny over data sharing with law enforcement and potential mass surveillance risks, prompting efforts to strengthen security and comply with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA.
AI in healthcare may complicate medical liability, experts warn
Experts warn that the increasing use of artificial intelligence in healthcare could make it harder to determine blame for medical errors. A report highlights concerns about liability issues and the lack of thorough testing for AI health tools. While AI offers benefits like diagnostic assistance and hospital management, questions remain about who is responsible when negative patient outcomes occur. The report notes that patients may struggle to prove fault due to the complexity of AI systems and potential barriers to accessing information about their inner workings.
Experts warn of agentic AI security risks
Foreign investors now hold a significant portion of U.S. AI stocks, highlighting America's reliance on AI. A new white paper from OpenID warns of urgent challenges in managing authentication, authorization, and identity for AI agents. Experts stress the need for scalable frameworks, automated verification, and robust credentials to prevent security lapses as autonomous agents act independently. Digital certificates and cryptographic roots of trust are crucial for maintaining accountability. The rapid evolution of AI security is essential to avoid potential system failures.
AI transforms complex B2B sales with guided selling
AI is changing complex B2B sales by bridging the gap between buyer expectations and industrial sales processes. Buyers now expect speed and personalization, similar to B2C experiences. AI-guided selling augments sales teams, merging human judgment with machine precision. AI helps businesses get discovered through generative AI search optimization (GEO), assists buyers in finding the right products via conversational search, and provides configure-price-quote (CPQ) solutions with guardrails. Companies like Syntron Material Handling use AI to automate quoting, reducing turnaround times from days to minutes.
NVIDIA expands AI influence through venture investments
NVIDIA is broadening its impact beyond hardware by making strategic venture investments in startups across AI infrastructure, robotics, autonomous driving, and nuclear fusion. This strategy aims to solidify NVIDIA's dominance in the AI field and foster an ecosystem around its platforms. The company is backing companies developing new chips, data center solutions, robotic systems, self-driving vehicle components, and fusion energy research. Analysts see this as a key move for NVIDIA to maintain its competitive edge and shape the future of AI.
AI adoption fails sales teams without structural support
Many companies are struggling to achieve results from AI investments because enthusiasm for adoption outpaces readiness, according to a Highspot report. Organizations described as 'AI Leapers' lack the necessary systems to turn AI insights into action, leaving sales teams in 'AI limbo.' The report surveyed 463 leaders and found AI delivers success only when embedded in go-to-market strategies, informing coaching and guiding execution. Highspot's CEO Robert Wahbe stated that AI's value comes from integration into frontline decision-making, not just adoption, highlighting a gap between strategy and execution.
Sources
- Salesforce launches Agentforce 360 AI platform to boost software products By Reuters
- Salesforce launches Agentforce 360 AI platform to boost software products
- Salesforce launches Agentforce 360 AI platform to boost software products
- Salesforce launches Agentforce 360 AI platform to boost software products
- Salesforce launches Agentforce 360 AI platform to boost software products
- Salesforce announces Agentforce 360 as enterprise AI competition heats up
- Lloyds to put chief executive and all top bosses through six-month AI course
- Lloyds Banking Group Pioneers AI Leadership Training With Cambridge Partnership
- Kids are offloading their critical thinking to AI chatbots — here’s how to protect them, experts say
- Should kids use artificial intelligence? Parent reactions are mixed
- Column | I used an AI tool to resurrect my grandmother, and it was awful
- FLOCK AI Privacy: How Decentralized AI is Redefining Data Security
- AI could make it harder to establish blame for medical failings, experts say
- Experts sound alarm on agentic AI security
- How AI Changes Complex B2B Sales
- NVIDIA Expands AI Empire Through Venture Investments
- Why 'AI Leapers' Are Failing Sales and CRM Teams
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