Latest news with #Salesforce
Independent Singapore
10 hours ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Tech tsunami: AI rewrites Singapore's PMET playbook
SINGAPORE – Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly changing Singapore's professional landscape. This shift brings new opportunities as well as significant challenges for the workforce, according to recent analyses. 2025 is seeing AI dramatically reshape the professional, managerial, executive, and technical (PMET) sector, which makes up nearly 39% of Singapore's labour market. AI tools like Salesforce's Agentforce are streamlining complex tasks. A 2024 AWS study shows that 95% of workers expect AI skills to improve job efficiency and possibly raise salaries by over 25%. The National AI Strategy 2.0 aims to triple the number of AI practitioners to 15,000, focusing on high-skill sectors such as management, engineering, and healthcare. Workforce development programmes have already trained over 231,000 workers in digital skills. The government is providing more grants to help keep the workforce competitive. Emerging technologies create a mixed story. While AI improves productivity in professional roles, about 38.6% of workers, especially in administrative jobs, may face displacement. Women and younger workers in technical roles are particularly at risk from automation. This raises important concerns about income disparities and workforce equity. See also SoftBank to acquire Ampere Computing for US$6.5B to boost AI push Economic forecasts remain positive. AI is expected to add S$193.8 billion to Singapore's economy by 2030, which is about a quarter of its 2023 GDP. The Infocomm Media Development Authority actively promotes ethical AI frameworks to ensure responsible use of technology. Seventy-six per cent of baby boomers show interest in AI training programmes. But significant challenges persist. Seventy-four per cent of employers struggle to find talent with AI skills, highlighting a persistent skills gap. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face a harder time with AI integration, even as government schemes (e.g. Digital Enterprise Blueprint) try to create more inclusive technological pathways. The transformation of the workforce requires workers to be highly adaptable. Professionals need to shift from traditional executors to strategic orchestrators. This shift demands continuous learning and comfort with technology. AI is maturing from a basic tool into a phenomenon that reshapes workflows. It's also prompting a major rethink of work itself. With AI challenging professional norms worldwide, Singapore's approach is being watched by others — business executives and policymakers — grappling with the same challenges. And also attracting the attention of those looking to manage the effects of technological disruption. See also Tin Pei Ling's 2011 Kate Spade handbag photo makes a comeback The emphasis on managing the impact of AI on PMETs through workforce planning and skills development is a cautious strategy. As Singapore navigates the intricate relationship between technology, labour, and economic expansion, it might be finding a workable strategy.
Globe and Mail
18 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Veeva vs. Salesforce: Which Life Sciences CRM Stock Is the Better Buy?
A significant shift is underway in the enterprise software landscape, particularly within the life sciences customer relationship management (CRM) market. Veeva Systems VEEV, a long-time partner of Salesforce CRM, has announced it will end its reliance on Salesforce's cloud infrastructure by September 2025. This strategic decision marks the beginning of Veeva's transition to its proprietary Vault platform, signaling a decisive move toward platform independence and deeper industry specialization. The split sets up a compelling faceoff between two companies now heading down very different paths. Veeva is sharpening its focus on life sciences by building vertically integrated solutions tailored to the sector's needs. At the same time, Salesforce is making a deliberate push into life sciences with its own purpose-built CRM offering. Both companies are accelerating investments in AI and product innovation, but their visions for capturing long-term growth are rapidly diverging. For investors, the key question is which company offers the stronger roadmap in this evolving market. Price Performance & Valuation of VEEV & CRM Shares of Veeva have gained 35.7%, while CRM stock has plunged 21.1% in the year-to-date period. From a valuation standpoint, CRM looks slightly more attractive than VEEV. According to the price-to-book ratio, Salesforce's shares currently trade at 4.15X, which is lower than Veeva's 7.50X. Platform Control & Industry Focus: Who Owns the Vertical? Veeva has long differentiated itself by serving a single industry—life sciences—with laser focus. That specialization is now reaching a new level as the company prepares to fully shift its CRM operations from Salesforce's infrastructure to its own Vault platform by September 2025. This move is more than just a tech transition. It gives Veeva full control over its software stack, allowing it to tailor features, optimize performance, and potentially expand margins without depending on a third-party host. More importantly, it strengthens Veeva's position as a vertically integrated player with deep regulatory and workflow understanding, something horizontal platforms often struggle to replicate in niche markets. Salesforce, meanwhile, brings the power of a highly adaptable and proven CRM infrastructure that serves thousands of enterprise customers across industries. Its recent push into life sciences through the introduction of a dedicated Life Sciences Cloud reflects a strategic intent to expand within this high-value vertical. While its approach is broader by design, Salesforce benefits from scale, flexibility, and a robust ecosystem that supports rapid customization through its platform tools. With the partnership ending, Salesforce now has the freedom to compete directly in life sciences CRM, and its entry could accelerate innovation and choice in the market without being constrained by a single client relationship. AI & Product Innovation: Whose Tech Vision Leads? Veeva is taking a focused approach to AI by building capabilities directly into its Vault platform. In April 2025, it launched Veeva AI, which integrates LLM agents and shortcuts across clinical, regulatory, and commercial apps. Features like Vault CRM Bot, Voice Control, and MLR Bot are set to roll out by late 2025, automating tasks such as pre-call planning and content compliance. Veeva also released the Direct Data API to enable faster, secure access to Vault data, supporting integrations with platforms like Snowflake and Databricks. These innovations are already gaining traction, with over 80 Vault CRM deployments and a goal of exceeding 200 by fiscal 2026. Salesforce is advancing AI at scale through Agentforce, a platform of prebuilt AI assistants embedded across its suite. Within 90 days of launch, Agentforce reached 3,000 paying customers and crossed $100 million in ARR. It connects with Tableau, MuleSoft, and Data Cloud to unify workflows and supports the Life Sciences Cloud Partner Network, which includes integrations with H1, ComplianceQuest, Box, and others. The company has also brought on AI-focused board members and continues to emphasize responsible adoption, aiming to augment human roles rather than replace them. The Road Ahead: Who's Better Positioned for CRM Leadership in Life Sciences? Veeva is focused on finalizing its shift to the Vault platform, aiming to boost margins and accelerate innovation with full control over its tech stack. Its AI roadmap, including tools like Vault CRM Bot and Voice Control, is designed to enhance productivity and compliance for life sciences users. With strong early adoption of Vault CRM and expanding enterprise relationships, Veeva is positioning itself as the go-to vertical platform for the sector. Salesforce is pursuing growth through its broad platform and expanding presence in life sciences via its dedicated cloud and AI-led offerings. Backed by a strong ecosystem and new integrations with healthcare partners, Salesforce is embedding Agentforce AI across its products. Its scale, flexibility, and ability to serve complex enterprise needs provide a strong foundation as it targets more specialized verticals like life sciences. How Do Zacks Estimates Compare for VEEV & CRM? The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VEEV's fiscal 2026 sales implies a year-over-year growth of 12.78%. For fiscal 2026, the earnings per share are projected to be $7.64, up 15.76% year over year. The earnings estimates have been trending upward over the past 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRM's fiscal 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 8.64% and 10.78%, respectively. The earnings estimates have been trending upward over the past 60 days. VEEV or CRM: Which Is the Smarter Buy? Veeva and Salesforce represent two powerful but contrasting approaches to the life sciences CRM market—one focused on deep vertical integration, the other leveraging broad enterprise reach. Veeva currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting positive sentiment and growing confidence in its post-Salesforce roadmap. Its Growth Score of 'A' highlights strong potential in revenue acceleration, margin expansion, and product adoption. Salesforce, meanwhile, carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) but also maintains a Growth Score of 'A', supported by its scale, product breadth, and AI-led innovation strategy. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Both companies are positioned for long-term relevance, but Veeva's focused strategy, platform control, and growing traction in life sciences give it the edge for investors seeking targeted exposure in this vertical. Salesforce remains a strong contender with scale and innovation, yet Veeva's clarity and execution make it the more compelling pick in this CRM faceoff. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the coming year. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +112%, +171%, +209% and +232%. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Salesforce Inc. (CRM): Free Stock Analysis Report Veeva Systems Inc. (VEEV): Free Stock Analysis Report
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'You'd Have to Be Very Skilled to Have A Job': AI Godfather Geoffrey Hinton Predicts Healthcare Will Survive AI Disruption
"You'd have to be very skilled to have a job," said AI godfather Geoffrey Hinton, warning that automation could erase much of today's intellectual labor. As generative AI floods workplaces, Hinton's comments highlight growing uncertainty about the future of work. Speaking on "The Diary of a CEO" podcast, Hinton argued that automation will swallow "mundane intellectual labor" yet spare medicine, where demand seems bottomless. The bold claim invites a pressing question: Can health care outrun algorithms while other sectors shrink? Experts Diverge On AI Job Loss Hinton's forecast follows a grim pattern. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei told Axios in May that AI could erase "roughly half" of entry‑level white‑collar roles within one to five years, warning unemployment could spike to 10% to 20%. Don't Miss: Be part of the breakthrough that could replace plastic as we know it—invest in Timeplast before the July 31st deadline and help revolutionize a $1.3T industry. $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), pushed back. Huang told Axios last week that AI will "create vastly more and superior jobs," comparing the shift to past industrial leaps. Even inside boardrooms, consensus proves elusive. Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) CEO Marc Benioff, told Business Insider at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva in July that customers are "not saying, 'I'm laying off employees because of AI advancements.' He cast the technology as a productivity booster, not a job killer Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) research from 2023 forecasts that generative AI could eventually automate up to 50% of tasks and boost global output by nearly $7 trillion. Health Care Emerges As Automation Outlier Hinton told Steven Bartlett, host of 'The Diary of a CEO' podcast, that clinical work is "much more elastic" because patients always want more treatment when costs falls. He estimated that making doctors five times more efficient would yield five times more care, not layoffs. Trending: This AI-Powered Trading Platform Has 5,000+ Users, 27 Pending Patents, and a $43.97M Valuation — Data align with this view. A 2024 McKinsey report predicted automation could replace up to 30% of U.S. jobs by 2030 and projected net hiring growth in health care, clean energy, and STEM fields. The consultancy pointed to tasks that remain difficult to automate, such as sterilizing surgical tools and assisting with in-home care. "I think there's something about the human empathy aspect of that and the care and so on, that's particularly humanistic," Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis Wired in an interview when asked whether hospitals will adopt robot nurses. Investors appear convinced. Health‑tech startups attracted $6.4 billion in the first half of the year, up7% from 2024, according to Rock Data Underscore Medical Demand Recent labor figures reinforce the trend. Bureau of Labor Statistics data show health‑care payrolls grew by 39,000 in June, extending a 16‑month hiring streak even as overall job creation slowed. Usage patterns reveal a disconnect between employees and leadership. According to the report "Superagency in the Workplace: Empowering People to Unlock AI's Full Potential," released in January by McKinsey, 12% of employees use generative AI for at least 30% of their daily work—more than triple what executives estimate. The report urges organizations to scale training and adoption efforts to fully unlock AI's potential in the workplace. Read Next: Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? . Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article 'You'd Have to Be Very Skilled to Have A Job': AI Godfather Geoffrey Hinton Predicts Healthcare Will Survive AI Disruption originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Newsweek
21 hours ago
- Business
- Newsweek
AI Promises to Make Blue-Collar Work Safer and More Efficient
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Across the workforce, automation, machine-learning and generative AI seem to be reshaping everything. While there is little doubt that the latest tech is driving huge changes in how knowledge workers operate, manufacturing and other physical, on-site work is also increasingly adopting emerging technology. Technology leaders in blue-collar industries and vendors in this space point to a few developments helping push AI forward, even though SaaS and cloud uptake has been somewhat slower in these fields than in others. The latest technology is largely being used to prepare, inform and connect frontline workers so they can operate more efficiently and spend less time on admin work. "It was actually hard to get data from physical operations, historically," Kiren Sekar, chief product officer at Samsara, told Newsweek. "If you think about trucks driving all over the place, equipment out at remote sites, workers performing field services 10 or 20 years ago, it was hard to understand what was going on. Versus in a financial institution, you can connect all of the electronic banking records into a computer: same for retail, same for health care." Samsara offers camera, sensor and analysis systems that help operations leaders in manufacturing, logistics, waste management, other municipal services and food production to improve safety and efficiency. Its first product was a sensor that tracked temperature, GPS location and vehicle diagnostics, and, later, the company added dashboard cameras. Sekar notes that the cost of sensors and cameras going down, the improved coverage of wireless networks and, finally, cloud data storage paired with machine learning and generative AI has allowed for the world of "physical work" to accelerate technology adoption. "You need to get all the data from the physical world that previously was offline, bring it into the software, and then once you get it into software, you should be able to make these operations a lot better," Sekar explained. "That was the thesis for starting our company." At Axis Water Technologies, a Texas-based water treatment and services company, chief technology officer Aaron Bagwell began in field service and operational management roles, learning Salesforce administration while working as a general manager to get on his current path to CTO. He said Axis Water uses Salesforce's AI-powered frontline service to support pre-visit prep, knowledge sharing and post-visit summaries. The company also uses a sales coach to help teams with customer conversations. "They can fix problems faster in the field and get the customer taken care of much quicker," Bagwell told Newsweek. "If someone runs across a problem that's not in a manual, we can go create a knowledge base article; that way, when another guy comes across the same problem, he doesn't have to spend the same two hours troubleshooting the next time." Bagwell points to the importance of building advocates to drive adoption and identifying high performers and other respected people across various teams to help make the case for new tech. He said that in the first month, around 10 percent of the field had used the products, and a few months later, it's up to around 90 percent. "Some of our technicians have been in here since we were still on pen and paper," Bagwell said. "Those guys are a little bit harder to get buy-in from. They say, 'I could have filled up my invoice in five minutes on paper.' But look what you gave the customer now. We're able to give this long paragraph of post-work summary with photos and everything ... give them a good, curated document." Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva Efficiency in the Field As Newsweek previously covered, some simple AI tools are expanding pathways into blue-collar work and also making significant progress on safety. For companies with vehicle fleets, such as moving, delivery, field technicians and truck drivers, decreasing accidents can be a significant driver of cost savings. Samsara is helping companies optimize operations and incentivize safe driving in a way that is also helping with retention. "It's a traditionally very high turnover environment," Sekar explained. "[One client] was dealing with increasing accident costs, and of course, there's a human cost of that as well," Sekar said of a prominent shipping and logistics company working with Samsara. "Their accident cost dropped by 49 percent ... a lot fewer injuries. Then they started using the technology to help reward safe driving, and they sawtheir job turnover and vacancies drop by half." Samsara has grown to over $1.5 billion in recurring revenue and expanded a client list that includes DHL, Sysco, Home Depot and the City of Denver. Before Samsara, Sekar's last company, Meraki, sold to Cisco, where it remains a thriving business unit. He shared that before that he and some of his cofounders were installing Wi-Fi networks for businesses. "We're seeing this really rapid adoption, whereas 10 years ago, you saw a lot of pen and paper, clipboards. The computer systems were literally green screens of text, and that's been really changing rapidly over the last handful of years," Sekar said. Taksina Eammano, EVP and GM of field service at Salesforce, reiterated that emerging technology is improving the capabilities of information capture for people who work on-site. "There are so many more next-generation products that have signals that tell us what we need to do. They can warn us before something needs maintenance and needs repair, so we can be more efficient and [environmentally friendly]," Eammano told Newsweek. She emphasized that technicians can collect much richer information in advance of their appointments to make them go smoother and ease the transportation burden on field teams. "Our mobile devices are so much more powerful now to be able to get data to search this moment," Eammano explained. "You don't need all your measurement pools, because you can use AR to fairly accurately measure and screen where things are." These sensors can save field workers small chunks of time that would be spent on guesswork or early diagnosis. "Say you're an elevator company and you're servicing, like, a hotel," Eammano said. "Saving you 20 minutes of not just walking around—and knowing the exact location to walk to—is really powerful. ... This is all the things that happen in the background getting you prepared to get on-site." Saving 10–20 minutes over the course of four to seven visits per day across thousands of employees can add up to significant time savings. "When you call the contact center, you don't just say the machine is broken. We have more detail," Eammano said. "So the technician goes out there, and they feel like, you know, they know what's going on." Making the Job More Attractive Despite a lot of effort to highlight the stability and strong pay of trade work, especially for electricians and plumbers, younger people remain heavily interested in other buzzy fields, such as technology and social media or entrepreneurship. But opportunities run aplenty in trade fields, which typically experience high annual turnover. Increasingly, software is being deployed to focus on connection and information-sharing, with the ultimate goals of retention, onboarding and ongoing training. "Because of high turnover, every year, the vast majority of the workers in a job are new. So anything you can do to bring that down and make new people more effective is super valuable," Sekar notes. These industries also often have a glut of older, highly experienced workers. This creates two challenges: transferring knowledge to new employees and the possibility of understaffing as waves of older workers retire. Though some recent research suggests interest in blue-collar work is growing in the youngest cohort of the workforce. "There's certain customers and industries where they're facing silver tsunami retirement challenges and [loss of] institutional knowledge from out in the field," Eammano said. "We also had this whole COVID break, where we didn't send as many apprentices for on-the-job training. So there's been this knowledge gap." At ABM, a facilities management company that provides services like custodial, HVAC, parking and landscaping, a heavy emphasis has been placed on retention with this group, even though high turnover has long been considered a cost of doing business. "We're piloting different things at our frontline supervisory level," Lisa Syacsure, VP of field operations at ABM, told Newsweek. "And hopefully it'll make a huge impact on our retention." Because chain restaurants and coffee shops often offer higher pay than ABM, Syacsure said, ABM's retention strategy has been focused on manager quality and career guidance. Syacsure pointed to updated leadership training and an AI coaching tool that is customized for different roles and geographies. "We've developed playbooks, refreshing those playbooks and really focusing on that frontline manager and ensuring that they onboard correctly and hire well," Syacsure said. "Then ensuring our frontline supervisors engage and support those team members." Syacsure is also working with her team of around 100 HR reps to share their technology wins. She admits she was a novice to AI when she was recently promoted to her VP role but has since embraced the emerging technology and its possibilities. "I have a weekly Friday call with my entire team, and we do case studies," she said. "I would pull up ChatGPT, and then, with the 24/7 coach that we've been piloting, I started showing my team: I have this issue, What would I do? ... [I] share my screen, and I show them how to use it and how it works. So now that they are utilizing the coach virtually as well, they're seeing the impact that it can have on their role." Another company, the Montreal-based WorkJam, offers an intranet built to connect and develop frontline employees. It can also help with flexible shifts and even pay-as-you-work plans. So far it has been particularly popular with retail and convenience store clients. "The adoption levels are fairly low for a typical intranet," Steve Kramer, cofounder and CEO of WorkJam, told Newsweek. "The adoption level for frontline is maybe 20 to 25 percent," in part because these workers still need to log into other systems to manage their pay, benefits or schedule. WorkJam aims to combine all of these in a solution that is purposely built for the frontline employee and has met some early success with clients like Ulta, Shell, Kroger, Hilton, JCPenney and Circle K. "We're typically getting like 95 percent plus adoption with high 80 to 90 percent weekly average usage," Kramer said. Kramer's philosophy is that keeping frontline workers connected and informed is going to be the best way to drive retention and high customer satisfaction. WorkJam also has modules for learning and recognition. "The employers will be able to drive operational excellence in a way that they weren't able to before, but at the same time, the frontline workers are able to have better clarity and knowledge around what they should be doing, how they should be servicing their customers and also potentially get recognized in a more objective way for the work that they're doing as well," Kramer said. With high turnover, an improved onboarding and ongoing education experience could lead to more internal promotions, improved customer satisfaction and wider best-practice sharing. "Organizations are not educating their frontline in the most effective way, so it has an impact on customer service, on service consistency," Kramer said. "It certainly has a big impact on compliance too."
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Humanising AI with Arundhati Bhattacharya, Salesforce
India's digital transformation is at a crossroads, propelled by widespread adoption yet challenged by legacy business infrastructures. Navigating this complex landscape, Salesforce India's president and CEO, Arundhati Bhattacharya , sees both immense potential and critical hurdles, particularly in the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced marketing technologies ( Martech ). 'Trust', Bhattacharya emphasised in a candid conversation with ET BrandEquity, 'is fragile'. In the age of AI, where scepticism about data privacy and ethics is heightened, fostering trust requires more than technological innovation. It demands credibility and genuine human connection. This principle underpins Salesforce's strategic choice of Rahul Dravid for its recent AI-centric campaign. Dravid, known for his humility and steadfastness, symbolises the company's commitment to responsible and human-centric 'agentic AI'. Bridging the Digital Divide India, as Bhattacharya pointed out, presents a paradox in digital readiness. On one hand, individual consumers exhibit extraordinary enthusiasm towards digital adoption. A Salesforce survey highlights that India boasts the highest proportion of digitally active individuals over the age of 80 globally, a testament to the country's robust digital public infrastructure, including Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, and ONDC. These initiatives have significantly accelerated digital inclusion, bringing underserved communities online. Conversely, traditional Indian businesses, particularly legacy enterprises, face distinct challenges. Bhattacharya observed that while digital-native startups benefit from agility and cloud-based architectures, legacy organisations must grapple with the complexities of modernising outdated infrastructure without disrupting ongoing operations. Drawing a vivid analogy, she remarked, 'Legacy companies must transform while running the business, much like changing tyres on a moving car.' Yet, these legacy entities also hold invaluable assets, deep institutional knowledge, vast customer bases, and established trust. Bhattacharya believes targeted AI applications addressing specific pain points, such as customer service enhancement or internal decision-making, offer significant opportunities. The banking sector illustrates this well: retail banking is markedly more digitalised compared to corporate banking, where personal relationships and face-to-face interactions still predominate. Martech: From Instinct to Precision In parallel with AI, India's Martech landscape is evolving, fundamentally reshaping marketing practices. Bhattacharya contrasts today's precision-driven, data-informed marketing with earlier instinct-based approaches that dominated her tenure in public-sector institutions. 'Marketing has transformed from a shot in the dark into a scientific discipline,' she noted. Today, companies leverage Martech tools for precise customer segmentation, behavioural targeting, and real-time performance measurement. Salesforce's recent campaign illustrates this shift vividly. A simple print advertisement featuring a QR code seamlessly transitioned audiences into an immersive, mixed-reality experience with Rahul Dravid. Personalisation and Privacy: Striking the Balance While Martech has elevated personalisation to new heights, Bhattacharya stresses the fine line between relevance and intrusion. Genuine personalisation extends beyond superficial customisation, it encompasses context, timing, channel choice, and consumer intent. 'True personalisation knows when and how to engage customers,' she remarked, emphasising that transparency and ethical data usage are paramount to maintaining trust. Her insights align with Salesforce's own research, which consistently underscores consumer expectations for ethical data handling and responsible AI usage. The emphasis is clear: businesses must ensure technology enhances the customer experience without encroaching upon personal boundaries. Humanising AI and Addressing Workforce Concerns Addressing prevalent fears about AI's impact on employment, Bhattacharya maintains a nuanced perspective. 'AI is a tool, not a substitute for human experience,' she clarified. While acknowledging AI's capability in executing routine tasks efficiently, she highlights its limitations in replicating genuine human creativity and nuanced emotional intelligence. For Bhattacharya, AI's true value lies in liberating professionals from repetitive tasks, enabling them to focus on strategic thinking, problem-solving, and innovation. Her own experience at Salesforce illustrates this: AI-driven anomaly detection in mundane tasks such as expense reporting allows her more bandwidth to concentrate on strategic decision-making. Yet, she acknowledges the necessity for continual upskilling. 'If your job is entirely repetitive and you aren't adapting, then there is certainly risk,' she cautioned. Bhattacharya encourages professionals to proactively embrace AI: 'We're at the start of a massive wave. You can either be overwhelmed or learn to ride it smartly.' India stands poised at an exciting juncture. Its digitally enthusiastic population and rapidly evolving Martech ecosystem offer a fertile ground for innovation. Yet, the road ahead requires cautious navigation around ethical pitfalls and digital divides. Bhattacharya's vision for Salesforce, and India at large - is clear: leveraging AI and Martech not merely for technological advancement but to fundamentally enhance human experiences. Ultimately, Bhattacharya advocates an approach grounded in humility, responsibility, and ethical clarity. Her vision encapsulates a balanced ethos for India's digital future-bold yet responsible, innovative yet human-centric. In her words, 'AI's greatest promise lies not in replacing human potential, but in amplifying it.'
