For $2 a conversation, a new AI agent from Salesforce can answer questions from customers and schedule meetings — without a human being needed for oversight.

The AI agent technology, which Salesforce announced earlier this week at its annual Dreamforce event, has the potential to disrupt jobs currently held by human workers. Nearly three million people were employed as customer service representatives in 2022, with the majority (66%) being women, according to Data USA.

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

Salesforce knows that its new technology carries the power to replace what could have been human hires. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said on Tuesday that the new AI agents allow companies to forgo hiring new employees or “gig workers” in more hectic periods of time, per Bloomberg.

“We want to get a billion agents with our customers in the next 12 months,” Benioff said.

^{Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images}

Adopting a hiring freeze, and then tasking AI with filling in the gaps, is a strategy being used by other companies like “buy now, pay later” payments firm Klarna.

One year ago, Klarna simply decided not to hire — not even replacements for people who left. Departing employees and an AI-induced hiring freeze have cut Klarna down from the 5,000-person workforce it was last year to the 3,800 people it had as of late August, without any layoffs.

Related: AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

In late August, Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski told The Financial Times that the company wants to get its workforce down to 2,000 employees within the next few years with this approach.

“Not only can we do more with less, but we can do much more with less,” he told the Financial Times.

Klarna isn’t the only company using AI to automate tasks that humans once did. Within the next year, three in five large companies in the U.S. intend to use AI for everything from financial reporting to marketing campaigns, according to a June study from Duke University.

Goldman Sachs estimates that AI could replace or impact 300 million jobs by 2030, affecting writing, translation, and customer service gigs.

Related: JPMorgan Says Its AI Cash Flow Software Cut Human Work By Almost 90%

In December 2020, the Federal Trade Commission ordered the biggest social media and streaming companies in the world, including Twitch owner Amazon, Facebook (now Meta), YouTube, Reddit, WhatsApp, Twitter (now X), Snap, Discord and TikTok’s ByteDance, to share how they used their users’ personal information.

On Thursday, FTC staff released a 129-page report, which found that these companies all “harvest an enormous amount of Americans’ personal data and monetize it to the tune of billions of dollars a year,” stated FTC chair Lina M. Khan.

“While lucrative for the companies, these surveillance practices can endanger people’s privacy, threaten their freedoms, and expose them to a host of harms, from identify theft to stalking,” Khan said.

Related: The FTC Is Banning Businesses From Writing, Buying Their Own Reviews and Bot Followers

The report called out major social media companies for collecting vast swaths of personal data and using it in ways their users may not expect. The FTC found, for example, that “many” of these companies buy data from third-party brokers about where a user is located, how much they make per year, and what their interests are, to understand more about a user’s activity on the Internet outside of the social media platform.

This personal information becomes the basis of targeted ads, which most social media sites rely on for revenue. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other products and platforms, reported that 98% of its $39.07 billion revenue in its second quarter came from ads on Facebook and Instagram.

Related: Federal Judge Blocks FTC’s Noncompete Ban 2 Weeks Before It Would Have Taken Effect — Here’s Why

According to the FTC report, it’s difficult for users to understand how social media platforms collect their information and how much is used to tailor ads. Many may not even be aware of what’s happening behind the scenes.

Plus, even if users are tuned in and know that social media platforms are using their data, they still don’t have “any meaningful control over how personal information [is] used,” the FTC report shows.

Companies use personal information to fuel algorithms, data analytics, and AI that, in turn, shape content recommendations, search, advertising, and other crucial aspects of their business. The FTC recommended that companies be transparent about the data they collect, do more to protect privacy, and put users in charge of data.

The FTC further found that if a user wants to delete their data, some sites will de-identify the data they have on hand, but keep it on file instead of wiping it all. The platforms that did delete personal data upon request would select which parts to delete and fail to remove all of it, according to the report.

Related: The FTC Is Suing to Block a Mega-Merger That Would Unite Coach and Michael Kors

“Companies can and should do more to protect consumers’ privacy, and Congress should enact comprehensive federal privacy legislation that limits surveillance and grants consumers data rights,” the report stated.

In today’s hyper-connected world, data isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the lifeblood of any successful marketing strategy. Yet, despite all the talk about data-driven marketing, most companies are still missing the mark. Are you one of them?

If so, it’s time to rethink your approach because the new generation of data generation is here, and it’s transforming the way brands connect with their audiences. Here’s why it matters and how you can stay ahead of the curve.

Related: Why You Should Look at Data for Smart Marketing

Why data-driven marketing is non-negotiable

Picture this: 87% of marketers say data is their company’s most under-utilized asset, yet only 20% of marketing spend is data-driven. That’s a staggering disconnect. But here’s the kicker — data-driven marketing can increase brand awareness by 50%. So, why aren’t more businesses jumping on board? The problem isn’t just access to data; it’s knowing how to harness it effectively.

Marketing execs know data is crucial, with 64% strongly agreeing that data-driven strategies are essential in today’s landscape. But the challenge lies in translating that data into actionable insights that drive results. This is where many fall short — either overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data or lacking the tools to turn numbers into narratives that resonate with the target audience.

The pet supply company that cracked the code

Take, for example, a large pet supply company we worked with. They needed a killer Instagram presence to break into Target stores, a move that hinged on engaging a younger demographic. We thought we had the content nailed down — funny posts, clever memes, etc. But the data told a different story.

Our initial content strategy didn’t resonate as strongly as we anticipated. The audience wasn’t engaging with the funny posts and clever memes we had planned. Instead, they craved authenticity — real pets using real products. It was a shift we hadn’t anticipated, but one that made all the difference. By partnering with pet influencers and leveraging user-generated content, we tapped into a goldmine of engagement. The result? Their follower count skyrocketed, engagement soared, and yes, their products are now on Target shelves. Without the insights provided by social media analytics, we might have missed this crucial pivot.

This example underscores the importance of being agile and responsive to data. In a fast-paced digital world, relying on assumptions can lead to missed opportunities. It’s the ability to adapt and make data-informed decisions that separates successful campaigns from the rest. The era of guesswork is over; today, data is the driving force behind every effective marketing strategy.

Related: How to Collect Digital Marketing Data in 5 Easy Steps

The unseen power of data in media relations

Then there’s the world of media relations — an area notoriously difficult to quantify. But that’s changing. Using GA4 and backlink/domain tracking software, we’ve been able to make the invisible visible. Referral traffic, UTM tags and an increase in backlinks and referring domains all tell a story of success. One client, a convention and visitors bureau, started with almost no digital footprint. Today, they boast over 600 referring domains and thousands of backlinks — a testament to the power of data-driven media relations.

This transformation didn’t happen overnight. It required consistent effort, strategic planning, and most importantly, a commitment to leveraging data to guide the process. By monitoring and analyzing the impact of our media relations campaigns, we were able to refine our approach and deliver tangible results that far exceeded initial expectations. This kind of success story wouldn’t be possible without the robust data tools available today.

The dark side of data: Why businesses struggle

So, if data-driven marketing is so effective, why aren’t more businesses doing it? The harsh truth is that many don’t have the data infrastructure to support it. According to a Harvard Business Review report, only 31% of businesses have a single, 360-degree view of customer data. That’s a major roadblock. Without the right technology, collecting and analyzing data can feel like an insurmountable challenge.

And then there’s the issue of skills. Many organizations are stuck in the old-school mentality of person-to-person sales and haven’t embraced the data-driven mindset. Creating a culture that’s not only data-centric but data-literate is no small feat — and it’s one that requires buy-in from the top down.

The barriers to effective data utilization are real, but they’re not insurmountable. The companies that succeed are those that invest in the right tools and foster a culture of data-driven decision-making. It’s not just about having the data; it’s about knowing how to use it to drive meaningful results.

Unlocking the full potential of data

But it’s not all doom and gloom. The good news is that those who invest in the right tools and strategies can unlock incredible potential. Data-driven marketing allows brands to deliver highly relevant messages, reducing waste and increasing engagement. In other words, when done right, everybody wins.

The future of marketing and PR lies in this new generation of data generation. It’s about more than just collecting data — it’s about transforming it into actionable insights that drive real results. Whether it’s through social media analytics, media relations metrics or advanced AI tools, the companies that get it right will be the ones leading the charge.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Succeeding with Marketing Analytics

The landscape is shifting, and the days of gut-feeling marketing are numbered. In an age where data is the new oil, those who fail to tap into its potential risk being left in the dust. The new generation of data generation is here, and it’s time to embrace it … or get left behind.

So, are you ready to overhaul your strategy and join the ranks of the data-driven elite? The tools are there. The data is waiting. All that’s left is for you to take the plunge. Your competitors are already on board — don’t let them leave you behind.

ChatGPT is the personal tutor and therapist of some high-powered CEOs.

This week, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff sat down with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to discuss the future of AI in a keynote conversation at Dreamforce, Salesforce’s annual event held September 17 to 19.

“I would think that it would be very hard to go through school in the future without your own personal tutor helping you through things,” Huang said. “Quite frankly, I have my own personal tutor today. I use ChatGPT.”

Huang, whose AI chipmaking company powers ChatGPT, elaborated that he turns to the chatbot to reason through problems, learn new things, and break down complex topics into understandable parts. In the future, everyone could have their own personal AI tutor, he said.

Related: Can ChatGPT Help Start a Business? I Tried the Latest Version, GPT-4o, to Find Out.

Benioff responded that he uses ChatGPT “mostly as my therapist.”

“Well, it’s apparently working, you look pretty chill,” Huang joked, adding that he is using the paid version of ChatGPT for the “highest-quality tutorage.”

Benioff didn’t say which version he uses but added criticism of the chatbot, saying it needs more context and memory to remember previous conversations.

^{Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (left) and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff (right). Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images}

What Is the Key to Longevity as a CEO?

Huang has been CEO of Nvidia for over 30 years and said at the keynote that the two conditions for longevity as a CEO are not being bored and not being fired.

Related: ‘Pressure Cooker’: Why Millionaire Nvidia Employees Are Still Working Until 2 a.m.

“I’m running all the time,” he said. “I don’t know where that comes from Marc. I think I need to sign up for the same therapy.”

Nvidia is the third most valuable company in the world, after Apple and Microsoft. It comprised about one-fourth of the entire S&P 500’s 17% overall gain. Its market power worries investors; Huang said earlier this month that intense demand for the company’s AI chips is his biggest worry.

Nvidia’s latest earnings report showed triple-digit growth for the fourth consecutive quarter. Revenue increased 122% year-over-year to top $30 billion.

Related: How Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Transformed a Graphics Card Company Into an AI Giant: ‘One of the Most Remarkable Business Pivots in History’

Since he was “a weird little kid,” Sam Faycurry aspired to attend Harvard Business School. So, when he got accepted to the prestigious program, he and his family were thrilled.

But life had other plans. While helping his mother and sister, both registered dietitians, start their business, Faycurry stumbled into an untapped business opportunity. He and his partner Mark Stefanski founded Fay, a digital platform that connects people with registered dietitians (RDs) who offer personalized nutrition counseling and accept insurance.

Soon, Faycurry realized he couldn’t attend Harvard and run the business at the same time. So, he dropped one dream to pursue another.

Related: 3 Things Your Business Idea Must Have To Succeed — as Proven By Famous Harvard Business School Startups

Today, at 31, he is the co-founder and CEO of Fay, which has raised $25 million in funding and is rapidly changing the landscape and accessibility of nutrition counseling. He talked with me about his journey from helping family members to leading a venture-backed startup on the latest episode of the One Day with Jon Bier podcast. Here are five key entrepreneurial lessons Faycurry learned along the way.

Get down and dirty

Faycurry believes experience is the best teacher. Rather than simply studying how to start a business, he says it’s equally important to get your hands dirty and just do it.

“You read these books and they’re always talking about, ‘Don’t do things that don’t scale.’ What the f— does that mean?” he says. “But then you’re sitting there and you’re doing things that don’t scale, and you’re like, ‘Oh, shit. That’s what they mean.'” This hands-on approach allowed Faycurry to deeply understand the problems in the nutrition industry and develop tailored solutions.

Swallow your pride

Building a successful startup means checking your ego at the door, and setting aside your pride to do menial jobs that might feel like they should be someone else’s problem.

For example, Faycurry recalls his mouth being bone dry from having to lick his fingers to separate mounds of paperwork. “It’s not until you’re doing that that you’re realizing, ‘Oh, this is what it means to be low ego.'”

But he says a willingness to tackle unglamorous tasks head-on was crucial in understanding the intricacies of the industry.

Related: How to Avoid the Double-Edged Sword of Ego in Entrepreneurship

Solve real problems, not intellectual exercises

Before building Fay, he admits to starting companies that were “more like intellectual masturbation.” He describes these early attempts as “horrible ideas” that no one really needed. It wasn’t until he focused on solving a real, tangible problem for his family members that he found success.

“When you’re in this intellectual state, one could be thinking about a lot of problems to solve,” he says. “However, when I found myself helping my mom and my sister start their dietetics private practice, I started to just uncover things that people maybe never saw before.”

Be willing to pivot from your original plan

Despite his lifelong dream of attending Harvard Business School, Faycurry made the difficult decision to drop out when Fay started gaining traction. “It was the most challenging decision because it meant so much to be offered to my family,” he explains. “No one in my family had ever gone there and it was a big source of pride.” This ability to adapt and prioritize the business over personal goals was crucial for Fay’s growth.

Related: Navigating Crucial Business Decisions — How to Know When to Pivot and When to Persevere

Stay hungry

Despite being a market leader, Faycurry and his team are constantly aware of the dangers of complacency. “It’s actually one of our great weaknesses,” he admits, pointing to the need to keep climbing even when they’re at the top of the mountain.

He refers to to a number of instances in the mental healthcare space where the companies that rested on their laurels had to drop out of the race, while those with something to prove stayed in the game.

For this reason, Faycurry says he’s always challenging his team to ask themselves, “How do we maintain that hunger and that drive?”

Throughout his entrepreneurial journey, Faycurry has learned that success often comes from the most unlikely places. He never dreamed his family’s dietician business would derail his Harvard Business School track—but that’s exactly what happened. By focusing on real issues and being willing to do the grunt work, Faycurry has positioned Fay to make a significant impact in the healthcare industry.

Reflecting on his journey from helping his mother and sister with paperwork to leading a venture-backed startup, Faycurry remains confident Fay will make an impact. “This feels like the one,” he says. “Whether it’s successful, I don’t know. I’m not here to say that. But for some reason, in my bones, this feels like it.”

Faycurry’s story reminds us that sometimes the most promising business ideas come from the most unexpected places—even from licking stuck-together papers in a suburban office.

Craig Newmark, the 71-year-old retired founder of Craigslist, has four focus areas for philanthropy: military families and vets, cybersecurity, journalism, and pigeon rescue.

On Wednesday, he pledged $100 million to support U.S. cybersecurity, bringing his total giving and pledges to $400 million since 2015.

^{Craig Newmark. Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images}

According to the Wall Street Journal, Newmark has already committed over 20% of the $100 million pledge to organizations and projects around cybersecurity. Common Sense Media, for example, received $2 million to support efforts like a cybersecurity awareness campaign for parents and teachers.

Related: Melinda French Gates Reveals Her Next Move After Leaving Gates Foundation: ‘Set Your Own Agenda or Someone Else Will Set It For You’

Newmark was worth $1.3 billion in 2020 and pledged to give away almost all his wealth to charitable causes in December 2022. He told the Journal that his giving was inspired by the Judaic concept of tikkun olam, Hebrew for “repairing the world.“

Newmark’s approach is to find the right people, give them the resources they need, “and then get outta their way,” according to his philanthropy’s website. He doesn’t give organizations who receive grants requirements to hit certain targets.

Newmark has yet to commit $88 million of his latest $100 million pledge. Applications are open through his foundation’s website where he personally vets the proposals.

Related: Warren Buffett Just Changed Up His Will and Locked Out the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

In our competitive business world, stunning visuals can make all the difference in capturing your audience’s attention and conveying your brand’s message effectively. High-quality images aren’t just a luxury—they’re a necessity for compelling marketing materials, engaging social media posts, and professional presentations.

Introducing the Award-Winning Luminar Neo Lifetime Bundle, now available for just $149.97 (reg. $752) through September 29. This limited-time offer provides you with lifetime access to Luminar Neo, an easy-to-use photo editing software designed to help you elevate your business visuals without the need for extensive training or a hefty budget.

With 4.6/5 stars on the App Store, it’s a comprehensive solution to empower users with innovative tools to transform your marketing materials and make your business shine. This bundle includes the 2022 Red Dot Award winning software, a video course on how to use it, and six add-ons, including both a Winter and Light Reflection overlays—to take your visuals even further.

Designed with simplicity in mind, Luminar Neo’s intuitive interface makes it accessible to everyone, regardless of your photo editing experience. You’ll be able to harness the power of artificial intelligence to enhance landscapes, replace skies, and retouch portraits with just a few clicks. Features like Skyᴬᴵ and Skinᴬᴵ automate complex editing tasks, saving you time and effort.

Achieve quick, pro-level results and maintain a consistent look across all your marketing materials with a wide range of presets. With tools like layers, masking, and local adjustments, you have the flexibility to fine-tune your images to perfection. And whether you’re on Windows or macOS or prefer to use it as a plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom, Luminar Neo fits seamlessly into your workflow.

Don’t wait to get in on this incredible price and get the Award-Winning Luminar Neo Lifetime Bundle for just $149.97 (reg. $752) through September 29.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Join us for an insightful webinar with Scott Greenberg as he delves into the unique challenges and opportunities of managing seasonal employees. In this session, Scott will share his expertise on how to effectively recruit, onboard, and retain seasonal staff, ensuring they remain motivated throughout their tenure.

You will learn best practices for:

• Creating a Positive Work Environment: Foster a collaborative and motivating workplace through clear communication and leadership.

• Maximizing Efficiency: Streamline workflows and optimize resources to boost team performance.

• Integrating Seasonal Workers into Your Workforce: Seamlessly onboard and manage seasonal staff to align with long-term goals.

• And much more!

Whether you’re preparing for a busy holiday season or a peak summer period, this webinar provides the tools and strategies to harness the full potential of your seasonal employees.

About the Speaker:

Scott Greenberg designs game-changing steps to grow businesses, build high-performing teams and create unforgettable customer experiences. For ten years Scott was a multi-unit, award-winning franchise owner with Edible Arrangements. His operation won international recognition: “Best Customer Service” and “Manager of the Year,” out of more than 1000 locations worldwide. Today he’s a sought-after international speaker, consultant and franchise coach, with clients that include McDonalds, Great Clips, GNC, RE/MAX, Smoothie King, Global Franchise Group and countless other companies in all 50 U.S. states and throughout the world. He’s also a VIP Contributing Writer for Entrepreneur.com. Going beyond numbers and profits, Scott delves into the human-side of business to help organizations boost performance and make a memorable impact on the lives of customers and employees. Scott is the bestselling author of The Wealthy Franchisee (2020), as well as his newest book Stop the Shift Show (2024).

A U.K. bank is warning the world to watch out for AI voice cloning scams. The bank said in a press release that it’s dealing with hundreds of cases and the hoaxes could affect anyone with a social media account.

According to new data from Starling Bank, 28% of UK adults say they have already been targeted by an AI voice cloning scam at least once in the past year. The same data revealed that nearly half of UK adults (46%) have never heard of an AI voice-cloning scam and are unaware of the danger.

Related: How to Outsmart AI-Powered Phishing Scams

“People regularly post content online, which has recordings of their voice, without ever imagining it’s making them more vulnerable to fraudsters,” said Lisa Grahame, chief information security officer at Starling Bank, in the press release.

The scam, powered by artificial intelligence, needs merely a snippet (only three or so seconds) of audio to convincingly duplicate a person’s speech patterns. Considering many of us post much more than that on a daily basis, the scam could affect the population en mass, per CNN.

Once cloned, criminals cold-call victim’s loved ones to fraudulently solicit funds.

Related: Andy Cohen Lost ‘A Lot of Money’ to a Highly Sophisticated Scam — Here’s How to Avoid Becoming a Victim Yourself

In response to the growing menace, Starling Bank recommends adopting a verification system among relatives and friends using a unique safe phrase that you only share with loved ones out loud — not by text or email.

“We hope that through campaigns such as this, we can arm the public with the information they need to keep themselves safe,” Grahame added. “Simply having a safe phrase in place with trusted friends and family — which you never share digitally — is a quick and easy way to ensure you can verify who is on the other end of the phone.”

Days after proposing to settle a data breach lawsuit for $30 million, 18-year-old genetic testing company 23andMe now faces another public hurdle: Seven independent directors of its board resigned on Tuesday through a pointed letter addressed to CEO Anne Wojcicki, who is now the only remaining member of the board.

The resigning directors, among whom were YouTube CEO Neal Mohan and Sequoia VC Roelof Botha, called out Wojcicki for not submitting a “fully financed, fully diligenced, actionable proposal” to take the company private over the past five months. They wrote that their strategic direction for 23andMe was different from Wojcicki’s.

“Because of that difference and because of your concentrated voting power, we believe that it is in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders that we resign from the Board rather than have a protracted and distracting difference of view with you as to the direction of the Company,” they stated.

Related: 23andMe DNA Technology Helps Family Find Kidnapped Daughter After 51 Years

Wojcicki, who co-founded the company in 2006, controls 49% of 23andMe votes. In July, she submitted a proposal to buy all the shares she didn’t already own at $0.40 per share and take the company private. A special committee created by the company rejected her proposal, stating that it wasn’t in the best interests of shareholders.

^{Anne Wojcicki. Credit: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images}

Wojcicki told employees in a memo on Tuesday that she was “surprised and disappointed” by the resignations and would immediately begin finding replacement directors. She stated that “taking 23andMe private will be the best opportunity for long-term success.”

23andMe, which was valued at $6 billion in 2021 shortly after going public, is now a penny stock worth 34 cents per share at the time of writing. The company has until November 4 to bring its stock price up to at least $1 per share or risk being delisted.

23andMe has faced a number of public setbacks, including a data breach in October that impacted nearly 7 million accounts and appeared to target people with Chinese or Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. Customers filed a class action lawsuit in January and 23andMe proposed a $30 million settlement earlier this month.

23andMe’s core product is a $99 ancestry kit that requires a customer to submit their spit in exchange for genetic insights. A $199 kit advertises health predisposition reports. The company is also developing drugs in-house and testing them.

Related: 23andMe Hackers Selling Stolen User Data, Including DNA Profiles of ‘Celebrities,’ on Dark Web