October 2024

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has been highly critical of Microsoft’s AI efforts this month, even going on a podcast to call Copilot “disappointing.” Now the drama continues as Benioff criticizes Microsoft’s AI for businesses.

On Monday, Microsoft announced new AI agents that can act on a company’s behalf for sales, finance, and customer service tasks. But based on Benioff’s tweet the next day, he still thinks Salesforce can beat Microsoft at AI.

Salesforce’s CEO wrote in a Tuesday post on X that Microsoft pitching its Copilot AI as “agents” signaled “panic mode.”

“Let’s be real—Copilot’s a flop because Microsoft lacks the data, metadata, and enterprise security models to create real corporate intelligence,” Benioff wrote. “That is why Copilot is inaccurate, spills corporate data, and forces customers to build their own LLMs. Clippy 2.0, anyone?” Clippy was the office assistant that Microsoft pulled in 2007.

Benioff then pushed Salesforce’s Agentforce, a set of AI agents customized for sales, marketing, and customer service tasks, as an example of “what AI was meant to be.”

Microsoft rebranding Copilot as ‘agents’? That’s panic mode. Let’s be real—Copilot’s a flop because Microsoft lacks the data, metadata, and enterprise security models to create real corporate intelligence. That is why Copilot is inaccurate, spills corporate data, and forces… pic.twitter.com/fBRFoVhWOG

— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) October 22, 2024

Related: Microsoft Strikes Back at Salesforce, Announces New AI Agents That Can Take Over Finance, Sales, and Service Tasks

Has Copilot revealed private information or been inaccurate?

In August, Microsoft fixed a bug in Copilot that could have spilled confidential information. Users have commented on inaccuracies with Copilot, but that isn’t a problem isolated to Microsoft’s AI — large language models across the board struggle with accuracy.

Benioff’s comments attempt to distinguish Salesforce’s business AI offerings from Microsoft’s by restating what he’s said before. Earlier this month, on an episode of the Masters of Scale Rapid Response podcast, Benioff said that Microsoft has done a “tremendous disservice” to the AI industry by providing AI that “doesn’t work.”

Benioff drew a comparison then between Copilot and Clippy and said that Copilot didn’t have staying power.

Microsoft, meanwhile, says that clients like McKinsey & Company and Thomson Reuters are creating AI agents with its technology.

Related: Can Anyone Beat Microsoft at AI? The CEO of Salesforce Thinks His Company Can.

Nvidia’s Blackwell AI chip, the same one that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said had “insane” demand, is now free of a design error that caused a production delay.

According to a Wednesday Reuters report, Huang said that the design mistake “was 100% Nvidia’s fault.”

“We had a design flaw in Blackwell,” he stated. “It was functional, but the design flaw caused the yield to be low.”

He specified the nature of the problem, stating that “in order to make a Blackwell computer work, seven different types of chips were designed from scratch and had to be ramped into production at the same time.” After fixing the design flaw, Nvidia has been producing Blackwell “at an incredible pace,” Huang said.

Related: Here’s Why Nvidia Just Broke Another Record and Could Take Apple’s Crown as the Most Valuable Company in the World

The chips were supposed to ship in the second quarter of this year, but are now shipping in the fourth quarter.

^{Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang displays a Blackwell chip. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images}

Reports that Blackwell could be delayed ramped up in August, causing Nvidia shares to drop. Since then, the stock has climbed back up, growing over 188% year-to-date at the time of writing.

Related: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says Nuclear Energy ‘Is a Wonderful Way Forward’ to Keep AI Data Centers Running

Huang has previously said that intense demand was the one thing that kept him up at night and that everyone wanted to be the first to use the Blackwell chip.

“We have a lot of people on our shoulders, and everybody is counting on us,” he said last month.

Snags in Blackwell production affect some of the world’s biggest tech companies, which are Nvidia’s biggest customers. Over 40% of Nvidia’s revenue comes from just four clients: Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft.

Related: Here’s How the CEOs of Salesforce and Nvidia Use ChatGPT in Their Daily Lives

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ComForCare is a franchise provider of non-medical in-home care services, designed to aid individuals in living their best lives possible through personal and professional care solutions. Founded in 1996, ComForCare has become a reputable partner for entrepreneurs seeking to make a positive impact on the lives of seniors and people living with disabilities.

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Small businesses that adopt bulk purchasing strategies for office supplies, food, and cleaning materials can cut costs by 15% to 30% annually, a recent report from CNBC says. For an entrepreneur or home-based business, this can mean thousands of dollars in savings each year.

Especially with the holiday season just around the corner, now is the perfect time to secure your Sam’s Club 1-year membership for just $20 (reg. $50). Whether you’re preparing for family feasts, gift shopping, or simply stocking up on extra snacks and supplies for the office, a Sam’s Club membership puts everything you need to get prepared for the holiday rush in easy reach.

From bulk purchases of quality ingredients for holiday meals to discounted electronics and toys for gifts, Sam’s Club Members can find incredible value when they need it most. Plus, members have access to other great perks like members-only fuel prices, ensuring your road trips to visit loved ones are as inexpensive as possible.

As holiday shopping ramps up, the savings from your Sam’s Club membership will quickly add up. Imagine snagging your holiday groceries at a discount, grabbing last-minute gifts, and stocking up on decorations—all without the stress of inflated holiday prices.

And since bulk buying can help reduce costs, especially when hosting or enjoying multiple gatherings, you’ll be more than ready for festive events, business parties, or yummy office treats.

With a Sam’s Club membership, you also get a complimentary household membership, making it easier to split the shopping duties or share the benefits with a family member. This can be a lifesaver on a busy day with back-to-back meetings.

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The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, 80, was arrested Tuesday with two other associates. Jeffries is accused of one count of sex trafficking plus 15 counts of interstate prostitution.

“As alleged in the indictment, former CEO of Abercrombie Michael Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith and their recruiter James Jacobson used their money and influence to prey on vulnerable men for their own sexual gratification,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “Today’s arrests show that my Office and our law enforcement partners will not rest until anyone who engages in sex trafficking or interstate prostitution, regardless of their wealth or power, is brought to justice.”

An investigation by the FBI and federal prosecutors in Brooklyn alleges that Jeffries, who was CEO of the clothing brand from 1992 to 2014, used his position at the company to bring aspiring male models to events in New York and around the world for sex. The indictment alleges the crimes occurred between December 2008 and March 2015 and that the men believed participating “could yield modeling opportunities with Abercrombie or otherwise benefit their careers.”

The indictment alleges that while Jeffries was CEO a “network of employees, contractors, and security professionals” helped run a business “that was dedicated to fulfilling their sexual desires” and making sure the whole thing was kept quiet.

Jeffries previously “vehemently denied” the allegations to the BBC. Abercrombie told the outlet last year that it was investigating and was “appalled and disgusted”.

Related: Abercrombie’s Polarizing CEO Abruptly Retires

The company declined to comment on Jeffries’ arrest to USA Today.

NYU Stern professor and serial entrepreneur Scott Galloway says “AI is not going to take your job” — but people who know how to use it might.

In an episode of the Masters of Scale podcast, which aired earlier this month, Galloway advised anyone who thinks their job might be at risk of automation to start using AI.

Related: This One Talent Is ‘the Greatest Skill You Can Develop’ for Entrepreneurship, Says Professor Scott Galloway

“I would say try to take 15, 30, 60 minutes a day, even if it’s spending time with your kids to try and time sneaker drops — which I’m doing with my 14-year-old — using AI,” he said. “Just get competent with it.”

Galloway, who sold his media business L2 for $134 million in 2017, initially experimented with the tech by having AI write for him based on prompts. He quickly realized how much AI wrote “like a computer” or in a bland way.

“I’ve used AI for every component of my job, and I find it can’t replace anything,” he said.

Related: Worried About AI Stealing Your Job? A New Report Calls These 10 Careers ‘AI-Proof’

Galloway says he now uses AI more as a “thought partner” than a writer. He consults AI for information, asks it to create a pitch deck, and prompts it to ask him questions like an investor based on the pitch deck. AI doesn’t replace the tasks Galloway has to do; it augments them.

“What I would say is just start using [AI], and your own mind will start figuring out ways you can incorporate it,” Galloway said. “You’re the warrior. This is a weapon, but you’re the warrior.”

^{Scott Galloway. Photo by Tobias Hase/Picture Alliance via Getty Images}

Galloway’s recommendations come as tasks like writing and coding have increasingly become automated. In August, Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman predicted a future where AI does most of the coding for software engineers. In April, Goldman Sachs CIO Marco Argenti encouraged computer science majors in college to study philosophy as well in order to develop the reasoning skills to interact with AI.

As for writing, one expert estimates that 90% of all online content will be AI-generated by the end of next year.

Related: How Close Is AI to Actually Stealing Your Dream Job?

The Ernst & Young (EY) Ignite Learning Week in May offered employees at the consulting and strategy firm a chance to upskill by taking online courses like “Conversing with AI, one prompt at a time” and “How strong is your digital brand in the marketplace?”

However, a report from The Financial Times revealed an unexpected consequence of the week: getting fired for “cheating.” EY staff who virtually attended more than one course at the same time were let go.

Related: Meta Fires Employee Making $400,000 Per Year Over a $25 Meal Voucher Issue

EY requires staff to complete 40 education credits per year, and the classes went towards that total. The firm said that dozens of employees were caught taking multiple courses simultaneously.

To the employees, being fired reportedly came as a shock, considering the overall culture at EY.

Some told FT that they’ve seen other employees do things like take two client calls at once. To them, the company has “a culture of multitasking,” complete with three monitors per person.

According to Glassdoor, the average base salary at EY in New York City is $105,000 yearly, with an average annual bonus of $10,000.

Cheating is a sensitive issue for EY. In 2022, the firm had to pay a $100 million penalty, the largest ever fine leveled against a company of its type, after the Securities and Exchange Commission found that its employees cheated on professional exams and education courses.

Related: U.S. Recession Fears Are ‘Overstated,’ According to EY’s Chief Economist. Here’s Why.

EY joins Meta in firing employees who misuse perks. Last week Meta reportedly let go of close to two dozen employees who used a $25 dinner voucher for items other than dinner over an extended period of time.

EY has almost 400,000 employees globally.

For celebrity chef Marc Murphy, food is more than a career — it’s a way to care for others. Murphy, who built a name for himself through restaurants and appearances on shows like Food Network’s Chopped, is driven to create opportunities for his team.

The food business is addictive, he explains, and that’s because of the outstanding people in the industry. “If you have a great GM or director of operations, and you want to give them a raise, but you only have one restaurant, you can’t do much,” he tells Shawn Walchef of Cali BBQ Media. “So you open another one, and that way, they can move up.”

Related: These Husband-and-Wife Co-Founders Started a Food Brand to Share Chinese Culture — Then a Smart Rebrand Took Their Company to the Next Level

That’s part of the reason Murphy has expanded his operation to include restaurants such as The Mainstay by Marc Murphy and Porchetta Sandwich Shop, available at Citi Field. This growth isn’t just about business — it’s about helping employees care for their families and build their futures.

“There’s great people in this industry,” he says. “That’s why I’m still here, and this is why I think most of us do it.”

Although he hasn’t opened a new full-time restaurant in some time, Murphy has found a way to stay connected to his culinary roots without the daily grind.

Each month, he hosts a limited-run pop-up concept called Marc179 at the MM Kitchen Studio event space in NYC. The pop-up allows guests to enjoy a curated prix fixe four-course menu for $75. Guests have flown in just to experience the limited dining event.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Murphy says. “We get to play restaurant three days a month and meet great people. And after it’s over, we remind ourselves why we never want to open another restaurant again.”

It’s a fun way for Murphy to stay in touch with his customers without the pressures of running a restaurant full-time, a balance that suits him perfectly.

Related: How This CEO Breathed Life Into a 75-Year-Old California Ice Cream Brand Without Losing Its Nostalgic Identity

When not being transformed into Marc179, MM Kitchen Studio is mainly used as an event space. However, Murphy has historically opposed closing his restaurants for special occasions. One memorable instance happened when he held a space in the Time Warner building.

“My banquet person says, ‘They want to rent the building out for after a movie opening because there’s a theater upstairs.’ I said, no, we don’t do that,” he recalls.

Murphy’s banquet manager insisted it was a big-budget event. The negotiations continued, with the offer climbing to $120,000 before Murphy finally agreed. He recognizes that some offers are too good to refuse.

Through it all, Murphy’s journey in the culinary world has been marked by a love for food, a commitment to the people he works with and a healthy dose of humor and practicality. Ironically, that practicality led to his unconventional career as a TV personality on the Food Network.

“I kept doing little things here, little things there,” he says. “And then the Food Network used my space to shoot some stuff. And then all of a sudden, I remember [my] assistant at the time gave me a DVD and said, ‘Stick that in the computer. Watch this pilot. They want you to be on the show called Chopped. It’ll bring people to the restaurants. You go do that show.'”

“[Fifteen years later], I’m still doing it,” he says. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Whether hosting pop-ups or recounting stories from his full-time restaurant days, Murphy remains a chef with a heart for his craft and those around him.

Related: This CEO Was Tasked With Helping an Iconic Hawaiian Brand Regain Its Footing. Here’s How He Used Storytelling to Do It.

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As an entrepreneur, it can be difficult to navigate the responsibilities of running a business while still leaving room for creativity. The everyday responsibilities of running a business can overwhelm your bandwidth and hold you back from innovation. Here are two strategies to help you snip the unnecessary weights holding you back from creative freedom.

Related: 5 Ways to Jump-Start Your Creativity — Even When It’s Running Low

Letting go

Unpack your to-do list and consider letting go of what is no longer serving your success. Taking the time to reassess the day’s priorities can save you from feeling overwhelmed by future obligations. When I start my day, I concentrate on what my team needs from me to keep projects moving forward. If there is a task that needs my approval, I make it a priority so my team can continue their work.

Add a sense of urgency to responsibilities that are most integral to today’s schedule. By prioritizing certain tasks, you can release unnecessary weight from your day and free up more time and space for creative thinking.

Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to your team. As an entrepreneur, it can feel like you are the only person who can do the job. But this isn’t true. If a project can be outsourced to someone else, trust that your team has got your back. Being legally blind, I’ve had to rely on others to be the eyes on projects that I cannot see. What some may consider a disability has allowed me to organically grow my business by sharing projects with others.

Outsourcing projects can also lead to a higher quality of work. More eyes on a project ensures tasks are handled with greater care and attention to detail. Plus, you never know when a team member might have an innovative solution.

Learn to let go of projects and ideas when necessary. As an entrepreneur, it’s important to gain the skills necessary to know when to move on. Notice when you are continuously hitting a brick wall and either let go or pivot and start from scratch.

When I am evaluating a campaign for my business, I track the number of successes along with the times when no results were converted. I turn those results over to a professional with more skill than me and stay humble while they report on the campaign’s potential. Allowing room for others to point out your blind spots is essential to the growth of your business.

Talking through the project with another professional helps hold you accountable and acknowledge when a project has run its course. Retiring an idea is not a sign of failure. It’s only from a place of raw truth that you can bounce back and soar higher than before.

Related: How I Transformed My Business by Letting Go of Low-Value Tasks and Focusing on High-Impact Activities

Looking ahead

When you feel weighed down by responsibilities, visualizing your future success can help you maintain a positive mindset. You want to taste, smell, see, hear, and touch what it will be like to attain your ultimate goals.

It can be easy to fall into the trap of negative thinking, but it’s essential to protect your mind by choosing hope and resiliency. Try stating words of affirmation or embodying mantras that feed your heart and vision to keep a positive mindset.

My visualization is that I consider my mind as a neighborhood. There is no trash on the sidewalk or bars on the windows. The streets are clean and full of enthusiastic energy. I allow the momentum of this vision to surge into the words I speak, the actions I take, and the results I achieve.

Through visualization, you help shape your thoughts into positive actions. Take time every day to refocus on hope and resilience to help you overcome obstacles and achieve success. Even the best idea can get derailed by circumstances. Reassess your goals on a quarterly or annual basis to make room for any necessary adjustments to your budget, staff or vendors. There is always room for growth and for embracing new ideas.

I’ve learned to make education a priority in my business. I embrace workshops and partner with experts to constantly expand my skill set. But it’s up to me to turn that knowledge into action. By reassessing, I give my goals the wings they need to fly. Create a vision board to put out into the universe what you want to achieve. This can be pictures that remind you of your goals taped to your refrigerator or having a dedicated space in your office for images that motivate you.

When I discuss my business, I talk about it like it’s a person. I give it legs and eyes and breathe life into it. I visualize my business growing from a toddler to a teenager to an adult. This helps me better understand its journey and advocate for it when I share my goals with others. Personifying your business can help you gain motivation to achieve your goals. Allowing yourself to visualize your future success opens your mind up to new possibilities and helps you stay creative amidst the responsibilities of your business.

Related: Vision Boards: A Powerful Tool for Achieving Your Goals

Conclusion

Snipping the weights that hold you down frees you from unnecessary stress. By delegating and learning to let go of projects, you invite more room for innovation into your business. As an entrepreneur, it can often feel like all the responsibility falls on you. Trust in your team to lift some weight off your shoulders to allow your business to grow. Use visualization techniques to help you remain positive during the many ups and downs of business ownership.

OpenAI recently secured $6.6 billion in funding at a valuation of $157 billion, but it’s far from the only AI company with high fundraising potential. Investors poured $2.9 billion from July to September (Q3) of 2024 into the latest U.S.-based AI startups, per PitchBook data.

The three startups in the U.S. that received some of the most funding were software development AI startup Magic, enterprise ChatGPT startup Glean, and AI document search startup Hebbia, per TechCrunch. The three raised $320 million, $260 million, and $130 million respectively in the third quarter.

Magic is creating AI that can write code and Glean is working on an AI search app for businesses. Hebbia focuses on AI agents for finance, law, and big companies.

An earlier PitchBook report from August shows that investor interest in AI is long-term and extends beyond the last quarter. The report showed that AI comprised 41% of U.S. VC deals in the first half of 2024, with $38.6 billion of the $93.4 billion total in VC deals going to AI startups.

Related: AI Startups Raised $50 Billion Last Year, But Some Investors Are Starting to Pass — Here’s Why

Going back further to last year, AI was one of the few industries with the most growth in unicorn startups, or businesses with a valuation over $1 billion. In an otherwise tough fundraising year, the number of AI unicorns grew by 22.9%.

Even as it presents opportunities, AI carries its own unique set of challenges. For one, the cost of developing an AI model is high. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei stated in July that it would take $10 billion to train AI “better than most humans at most things.” He estimated that AI companies would reach that point within the next three years and that now it takes about $100 million to train an AI model.

AI also has a hefty electric bill. Microsoft, Google, and other big tech companies are turning to nuclear power as a source of carbon-free energy; AI helped increase Google’s greenhouse emissions by 48% within four years.

Still, AI remains an area of high interest among founders. 156 out of the 208 startups accepted to the summer class of Y Combinator, an acclaimed startup accelerator, focused on AI.

Related: Y Combinator Helped Launch Reddit, Airbnb and Dropbox. Here’s What I Learned From Its Free Startup School.

One startup founder not affiliated with Y Combinator, Sahil Agarwal of AI safety startup Enkrypt AI, talked to Entrepreneur earlier this year about the dangers and opportunities AI poses.

“What ChatGPT did is it made AI real for everyone,” he said.