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Snap Shares Soar On $400 Million Perplexity AI Deal
Deadline· 2025-11-05 23:24
Core Insights - Snap's stock surged 25% after announcing a partnership with Perplexity to integrate its AI-powered answer engine into Snapchat, with Perplexity paying Snap $400 million over one year [1][2] - The integration aims to enhance user experience for Snapchat's nearly 1 billion monthly active users by providing a new way to ask questions and explore topics [2][3] - Snap reported a 10% increase in revenue to $1.51 billion in Q3, driven by improved advertising demand, and anticipates Q4 sales between $1.68 billion and $1.71 billion [4][5] Partnership Details - Perplexity will appear in Snapchat's Chat interface starting in early 2026, allowing users to receive conversational answers from credible sources [2][3] - The partnership is seen as a step towards making Snapchat a platform for leading AI companies to connect with its global community [3] User Growth and Financial Performance - Snapchat added 34 million daily active users in Q3, reaching a total of 477 million [4] - The company reported narrowed net losses and expressed confidence in long-term growth due to its focus on performance and creativity [5]
AudioCodes Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results
Prnewswire· 2025-11-04 07:00
Core Insights - AudioCodes reported a revenue increase of 2.2% year-over-year for Q3 2025, reaching $61.5 million compared to $60.2 million in Q3 2024 [2][6] - The company achieved a 50% growth in its Conversational AI (CAI) business, contributing to an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of $75 million, a 25% year-over-year increase [8][9] - AudioCodes' strategic focus on AI-driven, hybrid cloud software and services is evident in its ongoing transformation and investment in high-growth areas [6][11] Financial Performance - EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $5.2 million, down from $5.9 million in Q3 2024; on a Non-GAAP basis, EBITDA was $6.9 million compared to $7.9 million [2][3] - Net income for Q3 2025 was $2.7 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, consistent with the previous year, while Non-GAAP net income was $4.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, up from $0.16 [3][6] - Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $79.7 million as of September 30, 2025, from $93.9 million at the end of 2024, primarily due to share repurchases and dividend payments [5][12] Business Segments - Services revenue for Q3 2025 was $30.9 million, accounting for 50.3% of total revenues, indicating a strong performance in service offerings [6] - The Live family of services for Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) and CAI business are identified as primary growth engines for the company [7][8] - The launch of the Live Platform has resulted in a significant agreement with a tier-1 system integrator, enhancing cross-selling opportunities [9] Shareholder Returns - The company declared a cash dividend of $0.20 per share, totaling approximately $5.6 million, paid on August 28, 2025 [12] - During Q3 2025, AudioCodes repurchased 1,267,436 ordinary shares at a cost of $12.7 million, reflecting its commitment to returning value to shareholders [6][12] Future Outlook - AudioCodes aims to achieve a full-year ARR target of $78-$82 million, supported by the growth in its CAI business and strategic investments [8][11] - The company has received court approval to repurchase up to $25 million of ordinary shares, valid through April 28, 2026, indicating ongoing confidence in its financial position [13]
Kuwait Finance House Collaborates with NCR Atleos to Revolutionize In-Branch Banking Experience Using Conversational AI Avatar
Businesswire· 2025-11-04 06:00
Core Insights - NCR Atleos Corporation has partnered with Kuwait Finance House to enhance the in-branch customer experience through the use of AI technology [1] Group 1: Company Overview - NCR Atleos Corporation is recognized as a leader in providing self-service financial access for financial institutions, retailers, and consumers [1] Group 2: Initiative Details - The collaboration involves the deployment of hyper-realistic conversational AI-powered avatars at account service kiosks in KFH branches [1] - This initiative aims to offer customers real-time assistance and improve the overall customer experience [1]
Twilio(TWLO) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-10-30 22:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Twilio achieved record revenue of $1.3 billion, representing a 15% year-over-year increase on a reported basis and a 13% increase on an organic basis [15] - Non-GAAP income from operations reached a record $235 million, up 29% year-over-year, with a non-GAAP operating margin of 18% [17] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $248 million, with year-to-date share repurchases totaling $657 million, representing approximately 95% of year-to-date free cash flow [17][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Messaging revenue grew in the high teens for the second consecutive quarter, while voice revenue growth accelerated to the mid-teens, its fastest rate in over three years [15] - Revenue from voice AI customers accelerated to nearly 60% year-over-year, with revenue from the top 10 largest voice AI startup customers increasing more than 10X year-over-year [15][16] - Software add-on revenue, particularly from Twilio Verify, grew more than 25% year-over-year [15][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from ISV and self-serve customers grew more than 20% year-over-year, indicating strong demand across customer segments [5][16] - International messaging growth was strong at 18%, with Twilio gaining market share through its multi-product capabilities [59] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Twilio aims to be the customer experience layer of the internet, focusing on multichannel communications, contextual data, and AI-driven orchestration [5] - The company is investing in new capabilities such as conversational AI and branded communications, which are expected to drive future growth [5][12] - The acquisition of Stitch, an identity platform for AI agents, is intended to enhance Twilio's authentication capabilities [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's operational rigor and discipline, which has led to exceeding quarterly guidance and raising full-year targets [4][18] - The company remains focused on executing its product and go-to-market initiatives while building on momentum into 2026 [19] - Management noted that while the holiday season presents challenges due to strong prior year comparisons, they are encouraged by the strength across the product portfolio [45] Other Important Information - Twilio's dollar-based net expansion rate was 109%, reflecting improving growth trends [16] - The company incurred $20 million in carrier pass-through fees associated with increased Verizon A2P fees, impacting gross margins [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: How should we think about the functions or features that Stitch complements with Verify? - Management indicated that Stitch helps expand capabilities for trust between businesses and consumers, enhancing the customer engagement journey [22] Question: What drove the strong net customer addition number? - The strong net customer additions were attributed to the end of free tiers for email and marketing campaign APIs, leading to conversions of smaller accounts [25] Question: What are the trends in voice AI adoption? - Voice AI customers grew nearly 60% year-over-year, with strong performance across various customer segments [28] Question: What drove the sequential adds in the non-messaging business? - The net adds were largely driven by email, with strong performance in self-service and voice contributing to overall growth [35] Question: How is Twilio approaching international messaging? - Twilio experienced strong growth in international messaging, leveraging its multi-product capabilities to differentiate from competitors [59] Question: What areas does Twilio plan to invest in for future growth? - Management emphasized ongoing investments in AI, automation, and enhancing the self-service experience to drive growth [63][82]
Bandwidth(BAND) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-10-30 13:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q3 2025 was $192 million, an 11% year-over-year increase, normalized for the previous year's political campaign revenue [17] - Cloud Communications Services revenue reached $142 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase on a normalized basis [17] - Adjusted EBITDA was $24 million, exceeding expectations due to higher revenue and lower spending [18] - Non-GAAP gross margin remained strong at 58% [17][18] - Free cash flow generated in the quarter was $13 million, with a trailing 12-month free cash flow growth of 35% year-over-year [18][21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Enterprise Voice revenue increased by 22% year-over-year, driven by strong adoption among existing customers and new customer ramping [19] - Programmable Messaging achieved a normalized growth of 6% year-over-year [20] - Average annual revenue per customer reached a record of $231,000, growing 46% over the last three years [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The net retention rate for Q3 was 105%, and 107% when excluding political campaign revenue [20] - The largest customer category grew revenue by 7% year-over-year, more than doubling the growth rate from the previous year [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is evolving its business model towards a higher mix of recurring software-driven revenue and adding intelligent automation and value-added services [5] - The focus is on being the provider of choice for conversational AI deployment, with a strategy that includes native AI within CCaaS platforms and public APIs [7][8] - The Trust Services portfolio was highlighted as a key lever for competitive advantage, addressing customer challenges related to call answer rates [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the continued momentum in voice AI and increasing software revenue, positioning the company for a solid fourth quarter and start to the new year [22] - The company anticipates continued growth in Global Voice Plans and Enterprise Voice customers, along with a robust political campaign messaging season [23] Other Important Information - The company won the Technology Disruptor award from Ally Financial, recognizing its role in transforming customer experience [5] - The introduction of new AI-driven products, such as the AI Receptionist and Bandwidth Activation Agent, aims to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency [9][10] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you characterize overall demand and customer conversations? - Management noted a record number of $1 million plus revenue customers, reflecting broad-based demand and healthy growth in voice [30] Question: What are the 2026 medium-term targets? - The company aims for above-market revenue growth, 60% and greater gross margins, 20% and greater EBITDA margin, and 15% and greater free cash flow margin [32] Question: How are new products impacting Enterprise Voice and Global Voice Plans? - New products are initially launched for enterprise customers but are quickly adopted by Global Voice Plans customers due to overlapping interests [49] Question: What trends are seen with the Number Reputation Management product? - The product addresses consumer trust issues and is expected to have a global opportunity, driving customer wins [70]
Can SoundHound Replicate Its Red Lobster Win Across QSR Chains?
ZACKS· 2025-10-23 14:42
Core Insights - SoundHound AI's deployment of its phone-ordering system at Red Lobster marks a significant advancement in AI adoption within the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry, addressing high call volumes and enhancing operational efficiency [1][3] - The scalability of this success across various QSR brands remains uncertain due to the unique challenges posed by different menus, POS systems, and customer interaction styles [2][8] - Demonstrating measurable improvements in accuracy, speed, and customer satisfaction could lead to partnerships with other major QSRs, expanding SoundHound's market presence [3] Industry Competition - Competitors such as Toast and C3.ai are increasing their focus on quick-service automation, with Toast emphasizing restaurant management technology and C3.ai offering enterprise AI solutions [4][5] - While Toast integrates ordering and operations, it primarily focuses on POS and back-end analytics, contrasting with SoundHound's real-time conversational ordering capabilities [4] - C3.ai lacks the conversational interface expertise that distinguishes SoundHound in the voice-driven QSR automation space [5] Financial Performance - SoundHound shares have increased by 48.5% over the past three months, significantly outperforming the Zacks Computers - IT Services industry, which saw a decline of 3.9% [6][8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SoundHound's 2025 loss per share remains unchanged at 13 cents, indicating an improvement from a loss of $1.04 per share in the previous year [9] - SoundHound's forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio is currently at 35.36, compared to the industry's 17.23, reflecting a premium valuation [11]
GM is bringing Google Gemini-powered AI assistant to cars in 2026
TechCrunch· 2025-10-22 15:00
Core Insights - General Motors (GM) will introduce a conversational AI assistant powered by Google Gemini in its vehicles starting next year [1] - The rollout of Google Gemini is part of several technology-focused announcements made at GM's Forward event, with other features not expected until 2028 [2] - GM's integration of Gemini aligns with industry trends, as other automakers like Stellantis, Mercedes, and Tesla are also adopting generative AI assistants [3] Technology Integration - GM vehicles already feature "Google built-in," allowing access to Google Assistant and other applications through the infotainment system [4] - The new AI assistant aims to facilitate more natural conversations and assist with tasks such as drafting messages and planning routes with additional stops [5] - GM's long-term goal includes developing a custom-built AI that connects to vehicle systems via OnStar, enhancing the in-car experience [6] User Experience and Control - The assistant will provide maintenance alerts, route suggestions, and explanations of car features, while also allowing users to control the information it can access [9] - GM emphasizes user control over data access, especially in light of recent controversies regarding the sale of customer driving and geolocation data [10]
WestCX Elevates Pharmacy Operations with New Agentic AI Solution
Globenewswire· 2025-10-21 17:28
Core Insights - WestCX has launched an agentic AI solution aimed at optimizing pharmacy-patient interactions, enhancing medication adherence, and reducing operational strain [1][3][5] Company Overview - WestCX is part of the West Technology Group and offers AI-powered omnichannel solutions, including brands like Mosaicx and TeleVox, focusing on automating interactions and improving customer satisfaction [7] Solution Features - The new solution automates patient communications, allowing pharmacies to handle repetitive inquiries efficiently, thus enabling staff to concentrate on critical patient care [3][5] - It utilizes conversational AI and agentic capabilities to provide personalized interactions based on patient behavior and context [2][3] Impact on Operations - Early adopters of the solution report significant improvements, including up to 80% automation of standard inquiries, leading to resource optimization for core operations [8] - The solution is expected to increase refill rates by 20-35% through timely and personalized outreach, contributing to higher medication adherence [8] Patient Experience Enhancements - The solution offers intuitive tools for patients, such as smart map links for pickups, integrated web payments for faster checkouts, and pickup barcodes to minimize wait times [5] Long-term Benefits - Embedded analytics and AI-driven optimization within the solution are designed to refine performance over time, driving higher ROI and sustained adherence [5]
AI Scribe Rolls Out To 5,700 Clinics Nationwide As Experity Launches The First Touchless EMR For Urgent Care Providers
Yahoo Finance· 2025-10-21 14:16
Core Insights - Experity has launched AI Scribe, an AI-driven tool designed to enhance documentation efficiency in urgent care settings by capturing patient visits in real time and generating structured documentation within electronic medical records [1][2]. Company Overview - Experity, supported by private-equity firm GTCR, has deployed its AI Scribe tool across 5,700 urgent care clinics in the U.S. as of October 13 [2]. - Nearly half of all urgent care centers in the U.S. utilize Experity's software platform, indicating a significant market presence [5]. Technology and Functionality - AI Scribe employs ambient listening technology to recognize spoken details during patient visits, interpret complex symptoms, and highlight relevant health indicators, streamlining the documentation process [2][4]. - Clinicians can access AI Scribe on tablets or smartphones without the need for additional application installations, enhancing usability [3]. Industry Challenges - Urgent care providers face challenges in balancing efficiency and patient experience due to documentation overload, which can lead to clinician burnout and workflow inefficiencies [4]. - The urgent care model relies on speed and patient flow, making effective communication with patients crucial for positive outcomes [4]. Impact on Patient Care - The introduction of AI Scribe allows urgent care providers to focus more on patient interaction while documentation occurs quickly and accurately in the background, potentially improving patient satisfaction [4][6].
Vocodia Holdings Corp. and Scale Agile Solutions Announce Letter of Intent for Strategic Asset Acquisition
Globenewswire· 2025-10-17 13:00
Core Insights - Vocodia Holdings Corp. has signed a non-binding Revised Letter of Intent to acquire Scale Agile Solutions, aiming to enhance its position in the $470 billion conversational AI market [1][2] Strategic Transaction Overview - The acquisition will involve Vocodia acquiring key assets from SAS, while Connexus Ai Inc. will remain separate and not part of the transaction [2] - Post-acquisition, SAS will function as an independent division within Vocodia for at least one fiscal year to facilitate integration [2] Financial Details - The transaction values SAS's assets at approximately $10.5 million, based on its annual recurring revenue of $697,000 and a $1.5 million pipeline [3] - SAS has a strong client base, including contracts with iPower, FermaGlo, and Branch Insurance Group [3] - SAS stakeholders will receive a 45% equity stake in Vocodia through Preferred Stock, which includes conversion rights and anti-dilution protection [3] Synergies and Growth Potential - The combined entities expect to deliver 40-50% efficiency gains in sectors like healthcare and legal by leveraging Vocodia's platform and SAS's AI capabilities [4] - Vocodia plans to secure an equity line of credit (ELOC) facility of at least $25 million to support growth [4] Leadership Statements - The CEO of Vocodia emphasized that the acquisition is a crucial step in redefining conversational AI and unlocking significant value [5] - The CEO of SAS highlighted that the partnership will allow for responsible and strategic expansion of AI capabilities [5] Next Steps - The transaction is subject to customary conditions, including due diligence and regulatory approvals, with a 30-day exclusivity period agreed upon [6]