Salesforce is rolling out new AI agents specifically for the telecommunications industry, aiming to boost sales and improve customer retention. These specialized agents leverage real-time customer, service, and billing data to manage tasks like billing inquiries, plan changes, and sales assistance. Companies such as One New Zealand and Lumen Technologies are already implementing these tools, which are designed to provide deep customer insights and work alongside human staff for a more personalized experience.
In the data center AI market, Qualcomm has begun delivering large-scale AI hardware and software systems, utilizing its AI 100 inference chip from 2019. This initiative marks a renewed push into a sector currently dominated by Nvidia and AMD, though analysts note significant challenges for Qualcomm in this competitive landscape. Meanwhile, a cultural shift is evident as CEOs like Shopify's Tobias Lütke and Coinbase's Brian Armstrong are returning to hands-on coding, facilitated by AI tools such as Anthropic's Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex, which shorten feedback loops and keep leaders connected to product development.
The broader impact of AI continues to unfold across various sectors. In education, Tusculum University is hosting the Appalachian AI Summit to discuss AI's influence on learning, business, and daily life, aiming to make the technology more accessible. However, not all AI implementations are smooth; federal authorities are investigating the Los Angeles Unified School District over a failed AI chatbot developed by AllHere, which was disconnected in 2024 after only a few months.
Ethical considerations surrounding AI are also gaining prominence. ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski highlights the dual nature of voice AI, noting its potential for positive change in dubbing and aiding speech loss, alongside risks of misuse in fraud and disinformation. Similarly, the film industry faces allegations from a visual effects supervisor claiming widespread, undisclosed use of AI to generate scenes and characters, raising concerns about transparency and the replacement of human creativity. Even in personal realms, AI chatbots are enhancing BDSM dynamics, offering unique exploration spaces but also prompting questions about consent and control.
For businesses investing in AI, effective coaching strategies are proving crucial. A report indicates that only 35% of agents understand which tools use AI, despite a desire for more AI assistance. Experts like Ed Creasey from Calabrio emphasize that AI enablement has outpaced education. AI-driven quality management, which analyzes all interactions, can provide more specific and effective coaching, improving consistency and performance across teams. This approach is vital as AI increasingly influences how nearly 80% of consumers discover and choose products online, making trust a key factor in AI-assisted purchasing decisions by 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Salesforce launched specialized AI agents for the telecommunications industry to improve sales and customer retention, with companies like One New Zealand and Lumen Technologies already using them.
- Qualcomm is re-entering the data center AI market with large-scale hardware and software systems using its 2019 AI 100 inference chip, competing with dominant players Nvidia and AMD.
- CEOs, including Shopify's Tobias Lütke and Coinbase's Brian Armstrong, are returning to coding, enabled by AI tools like Anthropic's Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex.
- Tusculum University is hosting the Appalachian AI Summit to educate the public on AI's impact across education, business, and daily life.
- Federal authorities are investigating the Los Angeles Unified School District over a failed AI chatbot developed by AllHere, which was disconnected in 2024.
- ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski discussed voice AI's potential for dubbing and aiding speech loss, but also its risks in fraud and disinformation.
- A visual effects supervisor alleges widespread, undisclosed use of AI in the film industry for generating scenes and characters, raising transparency concerns.
- AI chatbots are being used to enhance BDSM dynamics, offering customization through services like Joi AI, but also raising ethical questions about consent.
- Many companies struggle to see performance gains from AI investments due to outdated coaching, with only 35% of agents knowing which tools use AI, highlighting a gap between enablement and education.
- AI is significantly influencing how nearly 80% of consumers discover and choose products online by 2026, making trust a critical factor in AI-assisted shopping decisions.
Salesforce AI agents boost telecom sales and customer loyalty
Salesforce has launched new AI agents specifically for the telecommunications industry to help companies improve sales and keep customers. These agents use real-time data to handle tasks like billing inquiries and plan changes, increasing customer engagement. Companies like One New Zealand and Lumen Technologies are already using these tools. The agents offer deep customer insights and can work alongside human staff, providing a more efficient and personalized customer experience. Some agents are available now, with more coming soon.
Salesforce AI agents help telecom companies reduce customer loss
Salesforce introduced Agentforce for Communications, a set of AI agents designed for the telecom industry to help turn customer interactions into chances for more sales and better customer retention. These agents connect to existing systems to use live customer, service, and billing data. They can help resolve billing issues, monitor service performance, create quotes, and assist sales teams. Salesforce emphasizes that these are specialized agents, not generic AI, built with telecom-specific knowledge.
Tusculum University hosts free public AI summit
Tusculum University is hosting the Appalachian AI Summit on Wednesday, August 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Chalmers Hall. This free event is open to the public and will feature experts discussing artificial intelligence. Attendees can learn about AI's impact on areas like education, business, and daily life. The summit aims to share the latest AI advancements and encourage discussion. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Tusculum University to host public AI summit
Tusculum University will host the Appalachian AI Summit on Wednesday, October 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Chalmers Hall. This free event invites the public to learn about artificial intelligence from experts. Discussions will cover AI's use in healthcare, business, and education. Tusculum University President Dr. Scott Wells stated the summit aims to make AI more understandable and accessible. The event offers a platform for learning and discussing AI's growing influence.
Voice AI's future debated by ElevenLabs CEO
ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski discusses how voice AI could change industries like dubbing and education, and help people with speech loss. However, he also acknowledges the technology's potential for misuse in fraud and disinformation. The interview explores the challenges of controlling voice AI, especially as governments like Ukraine consider its use. The core question is who controls voice when it becomes software and what rights remain.
Boost AI investments with modern coaching strategies
Many companies invest heavily in AI but struggle to see real performance gains because their coaching methods haven't kept up. A report shows only 35% of agents know which tools use AI, despite many wanting more AI tools. Ed Creasey from Calabrio notes that AI enablement has outpaced education, creating a gap. AI-driven quality management allows analysis of all interactions, enabling managers to provide more specific and effective coaching. This approach helps improve consistency and performance across teams.
Qualcomm ships AI systems using older chip, faces market hurdles
Qualcomm has started delivering large-scale AI hardware and software systems for data centers. These systems are built using their AI 100 inference chip from 2019. This move marks Qualcomm's renewed effort in the data center AI market, where Nvidia and AMD are currently dominant players. An analyst suggests there are significant challenges that Qualcomm must overcome in this competitive space.
LA schools face crisis over AI contract probe
Federal authorities raided the home and office of Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho as part of an investigation. The probe appears linked to AllHere, a company that developed a failed AI chatbot for the district in 2024. The chatbot was disconnected after only a few months due to the company's failure to deliver the project. This investigation creates a significant crisis for LAUSD as it tries to recover from pandemic disruptions.
CEOs use AI to code again, showing industry shift
Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong have shared their recent coding activity on GitHub, indicating a return to hands-on development. This shift is enabled by AI coding tools like Anthropic's Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex, which make it easier for executives to re-engage with software development. Their actions signal a cultural change, showing that AI tools can help leaders stay connected to the technical aspects of their products and shorten feedback loops.
AI chatbots enhance BDSM dynamics, raise ethical questions
AI chatbots are increasingly being used to enhance BDSM dynamics, offering a non-judgmental space for exploration and role-play. Services like Joi AI allow users to customize chatbots for specific scenarios, with some user bases growing significantly. While AI can provide a unique tool for exploring fantasies and overcoming trust issues, some experts and users express concerns about the technology being impersonal or potentially dangerous. The use of AI in BDSM also raises questions about consent and control.
Hollywood insider claims AI deception in film industry
A visual effects supervisor alleges that the film industry is misleading the public about the extent of AI's use in filmmaking. The insider claims AI is being used to generate entire scenes, character designs, and scripts, which are then presented as human-created work. This practice affects various creative roles and raises concerns about replacing human creativity and labor. The call is for greater transparency and labeling to distinguish between human and AI-generated content in films.
AI is changing how shoppers find and choose products
Artificial intelligence is now actively influencing how shoppers discover, compare, and select products online in 2026. Nearly 80% of consumers have used AI assistants, making it a common tool for tasks like finding new items and comparing options. AI is becoming a new entry point for retail, with discovery happening earlier in the shopping journey, often outside of retailer websites. Trust remains a key factor, influencing how much consumers are willing to let AI make decisions for them.
Sources
- Salesforce launches telco-specific AI agents to improve sales and customer retention
- Salesforce targets telecom churn with AI agents
- Tusculum University to host public summit about artificial intelligence
- Tusculum University to host public summit about artificial intelligence
- ElevenLabs CEO says voice AI will change everything. Can it be controlled?
- Stop Wasting AI Investments: Modernize Your Coaching Strategy
- Insight: Qualcomm ships rack-scale AI systems built on 2019 AI 100 chip; analyst sees structural barriers
- L.A. schools face crisis amid investigation into Carvalho, AI contract
- Shopify, Coinbase CEOs Show Off Their Code Commit Charts As AI Makes Coding Easier Than Ever Before
- Who’s Your Daddy? A Chatbot
- Hollywood Insider Exposes Alleged Deception About AI in Film Industry
- How AI is reshaping how shoppers discover, compare and shortlist products
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