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Meta announces its Superintelligence Labs Chief Scientist: former OpenAI GPT-4 co-creator Shengjia Zhao
VentureBeat· 2025-07-26 00:58
Want smarter insights in your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletters to get only what matters to enterprise AI, data, and security leaders. Subscribe Now Meta has appointed Shengjia Zhao, a former OpenAI researcher and co‑creator of GPT‑4, as the Chief Scientist of its newly created Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL). The announcement was made Friday by Mark Zuckerberg on Threads, noting Zhao will lead the lab’s scientific agenda alongside him and Alexandr Wang, the former CEO of Scale AI who Meta recentl ...
Salesforce launches Agentforce 3 with AI agent observability and MCP support
VentureBeat· 2025-06-23 21:03
Core Insights - Salesforce has launched significant enhancements to its AI agent platform, Agentforce 3, aimed at addressing enterprise challenges in deploying digital workers at scale, particularly in monitoring performance and ensuring security across corporate systems [1][2][9] Group 1: AI Agent Performance and Demand - The introduction of a "Command Center" in Agentforce 3 provides executives with real-time visibility into AI agent performance and supports interoperability with numerous external business tools [2][9] - There has been a 233% increase in AI agent usage within six months, with over 8,000 customers adopting the technology, leading to measurable returns such as a 15% reduction in customer case handling time for Engine and a 70% autonomous resolution rate for 1-800Accountant during peak tax season [3][22] Group 2: Enterprise Integration and Transformation - PepsiCo is leveraging Agentforce as part of its AI-driven transformation strategy, recognizing the need for better integration of data and systems to meet evolving customer demands [5][6][8] - The deployment of AI agents is seen as essential for enhancing customer engagement and driving backend efficiency, with PepsiCo's long-standing partnership with Salesforce facilitating a swift transition to AI technologies [7][8] Group 3: Operational Challenges and Solutions - The new observability platform in Agentforce 3 addresses the operational challenges that arise post-deployment, providing analytics on agent interactions and health monitoring with real-time alerts [11][12] - The system captures all agent activity using the OpenTelemetry standard, allowing integration with existing monitoring tools and ensuring oversight of AI agents within operational workflows [13] Group 4: Interoperability and Security - Salesforce's adoption of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) enhances AI agent interoperability, enabling connections with MCP-compliant servers without custom development [14][16] - The platform's enhanced architecture offers 50% lower latency and improved security for regulated industries by hosting AI models within Salesforce's infrastructure, ensuring sensitive data remains secure [18][19] Group 5: Industry-Specific Deployments and Pricing - Salesforce has developed over 200 pre-configured industry actions to expedite AI agent deployment, with significant results reported by clients such as OpenTable and Grupo Falabella [21][22] - The company has introduced flexible pricing models, including unlimited usage licenses for employee-facing agents and per-action pricing that scales with actual AI work performed [22] Group 6: Future of Work and Competitive Landscape - The rise of AI agents is transforming enterprise operations, with new roles emerging for managing these digital employees, indicating a shift in how work is organized [23][24] - As competition intensifies among major technology firms, Salesforce emphasizes its integration advantages, allowing for comprehensive tracking of work cycles within the enterprise ecosystem [24]
Microsoft partners with AMD on next generation of Xbox
VentureBeat· 2025-06-17 19:07
Core Insights - Microsoft has entered a strategic, multi-year agreement with AMD to co-engineer silicon for next-generation Xbox consoles and other devices, aiming to enhance visual quality, gameplay, and AI experiences [1][5] - The collaboration is expected to provide compatibility with existing Xbox game libraries and facilitate a gaming experience that is not restricted to a single store or device [1][5] Group 1: Partnership Details - The partnership between Microsoft and AMD is a continuation of their previous collaborations on earlier Xbox console generations, indicating a long-term relationship [2] - Microsoft is likely working on a custom design for its upcoming game console, which may also involve AMD for Windows-related hardware and new handheld devices [3][4] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Microsoft and Sony are both developing their next-generation consoles, with a focus on not falling behind competitors like Nintendo, which recently launched the Switch 2 [4][7] - The collaboration with AMD positions Microsoft to enhance gaming experiences across various platforms, including consoles, PCs, handhelds, and cloud services [4][6] Group 3: Technological Advantages - AMD's chip design, which integrates processor and graphics functions, gives it a competitive edge over rivals like Nvidia and Intel, making it challenging for competitors to take console designs away from AMD [6] - The focus on AMD architecture by developers further solidifies AMD's position in the gaming console market [6]
Nintendo sells 3.5M Switch 2 consoles in four days
VentureBeat· 2025-06-11 23:17
Core Insights - Nintendo Switch 2 has sold over 3.5 million units globally in its first four days, marking it as the fastest-selling Nintendo hardware ever [1] - The company aims to sell 15 million Switch 2 consoles in its first year, anticipating growth that exceeds the original Switch [1] Sales Performance - The sales rate is impressive despite economic uncertainties and a higher-than-usual price point [2] - The standard version of the Switch 2 is priced at $450, while the Mario Kart World bundle is priced at $500, leading to at least $1.575 billion in sales within the first four days [2]
Fortnite finally returns to the Apple App Store
VentureBeat· 2025-05-20 23:39
Core Points - After over four years of legal disputes, Epic Games' Fortnite has returned to Apple's U.S. App Store, following a court decision favoring Epic [1][2] - The conflict originated from Epic's desire to implement direct payments from players, avoiding Apple's 30% commission on purchases [1][3] - The court's injunction prevents Apple from rejecting apps like Fortnite based on the inclusion of external purchase links, which could significantly impact the digital marketplace by allowing publishers to bypass traditional revenue cuts [3] Company Impact - Epic Games successfully reinstated Fortnite on the App Store, indicating a potential shift in the app distribution landscape [2][3] - Apple's initial resistance to comply with the court's decision suggests ongoing tensions between the two companies, which may affect future app approvals and policies [2][3] Industry Ramifications - The resolution of this dispute may set a precedent for other developers seeking to avoid high commission fees imposed by digital storefronts, potentially reshaping revenue models across the industry [3]
Nvidia welcomes Trump's proposal to rescind global chip restrictions
VentureBeat· 2025-05-08 06:20
Donald Trump's administration is expected to rescind Joe Biden's curbs on AI chip sales as part of a broader effort to revise semiconductor restrictions, Bloomberg reported. In a statement, Nvidia said, "We welcome the administration's leadership and new direction on AI policy. With the AI Diffusion Rule revoked, America will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead the next industrial revolution and create high-paying U.S. jobs, build new U.S.-supplied infrastructure, and alleviate the trade deficit ...