Today Salesforce unveiled AI Cloud to bring generative AI tools to all the CRM and CX vendor’s applications, and will be generally available later this year. AI Cloud is similar to Salesforce’s existing Data Cloud. Both support various AI models and are built on top of Hyperforce, Salesforce’s infrastructure for the public cloud, and both are foundational products for other platforms.
Showing it’s playing for keeps in the generative AI race, Salesforce also announced that it’s growing its Generative AI Fund, the part of the company’s Salesforce Ventures VC off-shoot backing startups developing “responsible generative AI,” from $250 million in size to $500 million.
“The expansion would enable Salesforce to work with even more entrepreneurs … accelerating the development of transformative AI solutions for the enterprise. We’re already seeing AI change the way the world works, and we’re excited to build on the momentum of our Generative AI fun. We’re excited to support the next generation of innovative founders,” Salesforce Ventures managing partner Paul Drews commented.
The move underscores the race among technology companies to incorporate their tools with generative AI, which can create new text, imagery and other content based on inputs from past data.
AI is reshaping our world and transforming business in ways we never imagined, and every company needs to become AI-first.
Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce
Along with the company’s own offerings, AI Cloud will host the large-language models (LLMs) – the core software of artificial intelligence systems – from providers such as Amazon Web Services, Anthropic and Cohere.
Salesforce said it plans to ensure data privacy for businesses using such offerings by helping prevent the LLMs from retaining sensitive customer information.
In March, the company launched the Einstein GPT service and said it is working with ChatGPT creator OpenAI to add the chatbot sensation to its collaboration software Slack.
