Salesforce Agentforce 3 and Botpress Forge New Frontiers in AI Agent Technology

Salesforce has launched Agentforce 3, an enhanced platform for AI agents targeting businesses in sectors like customer service and marketing. Key updates include the Agentforce Command Center, which provides real-time insights on AI agent performance and optimization opportunities. The platform supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP) standard, facilitating AI data sharing and integration with enterprise systems such as AWS, Google Cloud, PayPal, and Stripe. Significant improvements encompass a new Atlas architecture and the addition of hosted Claude models from Anthropic. With over 100 new industry-specific actions and expanded language support, Agentforce 3 aims to automate up to 70 percent of chat queries and is now available with a new pricing model for extensive use. (Source)

Montréal-based AI startup Botpress has raised $25 million USD in Series B funding to enhance its platform for building and deploying agentic AI, positioning itself as a crucial infrastructure layer in the rapidly growing field. Led by Toronto's Framework Venture Partners with participation from Deloitte Ventures and HubSpot Ventures, this funding boosts Botpress’ valuation to $120 million USD. The startup, which pivoted from chatbots to large language model-powered AI agents, plans to double its workforce, establish a European office and data center, and introduce voice capabilities. With a business model likened to WordPress in terms of distribution, Botpress claims to support clients in diverse industries, boasting 3,000 paying customers and aiming for over $10 million in annual revenue. As the demand for AI agents continues to rise, Botpress is poised to address the gap between raw AI technology and practical applications, targeting a multi-billion-dollar market for AI agent platforms. (Source)

Microsoft is preparing to transform Windows 11 into an operating system powered by generative AI, introducing a key AI technology that allows genAI agents to operate offline. The company's new small language model, Mu, is capable of responding to natural language queries directly within Windows. This development harnesses the neural processing units (NPUs) of Copilot PCs, as highlighted by Vivek Pradeep, Vice President and Distinguished Engineer for Windows Applied Sciences, in a recent blog post. (Source)

Digits, an AI-native accounting platform, has launched Digits Accounting Agents, which embed AI agents to automate entire accounting workflows on its Autonomous General Ledger (AGL), enhancing efficiency for over 700 firms, including Hiline. This innovation shifts from traditional user-operated features, with AI agents performing tasks end-to-end, minimizing manual work and needing human input only when necessary. CEO Jeff Seibert emphasizes the platform's AI-native design in addressing the accounting industry's labor shortages. Digits showcases superior performance with the Bookkeeping Agent making significantly fewer errors and operating at a fraction of traditional costs. The platform, supported by substantial VC funding, offers AI-driven insights and streamlining tools, enticing firms to adopt AI-native accounting practices through its Partner Program and securing backing from prominent investors like Benchmark and SoftBank. (Source)

Salesforce has launched Agentforce 3, a significant update to its AI agent platform, enhancing control and visibility for businesses utilizing AI-driven automation. With features like a central Command Center for real-time monitoring and an extensive suite of over 100 new use cases tailored to industries such as healthcare, finance, and retail, the upgrade supports increased AI agent usage, which has surged 233% in six months. The update also introduces the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for easy integration with external systems and includes partnerships with AWS, Google Cloud, and IBM, among others. Companies like 1-800Accountant and Engine are already leveraging these advancements to improve operational efficiency and subscriber retention. Additionally, the update reduces latency by 50%, supports large language models, and expands globally to regions including Canada, the U.K., and India. Agentforce 3 is immediately available, with rollout plans for its various features over the coming weeks. (Source)