Salesforce's AI Shift: 4,000 Jobs Cut & Taco Bell's AI Overhaul

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Taco Bell is taking a closer look at its AI-driven drive-through systems after seeing varied outcomes across more than 500 locations. The company is exploring a more adaptable approach to integrating AI into its operations. Meanwhile, Salesforce is making significant changes by reducing its workforce by 4,000 as AI agents now manage half of their customer interactions, according to CEO Marc Benioff.

In other news, Addvocate.AI, a startup from Tunisia, has received investment from 216 Capital to improve its AI sales platform. This investment aims to tackle inefficiencies in sales pipelines. Additionally, MediaFuse has partnered with Google for Startups Cloud Program to enhance its press release distribution using AI technology.

Taco Bell Reassesses AI in Drive-Throughs

Taco Bell is evaluating its use of AI for drive-through orders after experiencing mixed results at over 500 locations. The company is considering a flexible approach, allowing franchisees to decide on AI usage. Read more

Salesforce Reduces Workforce by 4,000 in Customer Support

Salesforce has announced a reduction of 4,000 jobs in its customer support division as AI agents now handle 50% of customer interactions. CEO Marc Benioff highlighted the role of AI in managing a backlog of sales leads. Read more

216 Capital Invests in Addvocate.AI for AI Sales Enhancement

Tunisia-based startup Addvocate.AI has secured investment from 216 Capital to enhance its AI-driven sales platform. The funding aims to tackle sales pipeline inefficiencies and support international expansion. Read more

Sierra to Raise $350 Million Led by Greenoaks Capital

Sierra, an AI startup, is close to securing a $350 million funding round led by Greenoaks Capital, valuing the company at $10 billion. Founded by Bret Taylor and Clay Bavor, the company is projected to surpass $100 million in annual recurring revenue. Read more

Rainbird Technologies Appoints New Chief Revenue Officer

Rainbird Technologies has appointed Coenraad van der Poel as Chief Revenue Officer to lead its commercial strategy and drive global growth, particularly in the US market. Read more

Symmetri Secures $6 Million for AI Agent Deployment

The startup Symmetri has raised $6 million in seed funding to assist brands in deploying AI agents for enhanced visibility and customer engagement. Read more

Scality Appoints New VP for AI Storage Solutions

Scality has appointed Tom Leyden as Vice President of Product Marketing to lead global marketing for Scality RING and ARTESCA, focusing on enterprise hybrid cloud data and AI solutions. Read more

Throxy Introduces Pay-Per-Meeting Sales Model

London-based startup Throxy has secured $6.2 million in funding to implement a pay-for-results sales model, focusing on traditional industries. Supported by Base10 Partners, the company aims to enhance outbound sales by charging clients only for booked meetings. Read more

Quickplay Introduces AI Studio for Content Monetization

Quickplay has unveiled AI Studio, a new platform aimed at helping broadcasters and streamers monetize their content libraries by transforming them into short-form assets. The platform uses AI to automate workflows and improve audience engagement across platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Read more

Vivrelle, Revolve, and FWRD Introduce AI Stylist 'Ella'

The luxury membership platform Vivrelle, along with Revolve and FWRD, has unveiled an AI tool named Ella to offer personalized fashion recommendations by analyzing user preferences across their platforms. Read more

Ernst & Young Opens Databricks Center in Mexico City

Ernst & Young has launched a new Databricks Center of Excellence in Mexico City to boost its AI and data analytics capabilities. The center will focus on developing Databricks-powered solutions for clients across various industries. Read more

Gravity Launches Orion AI Platform for Enterprises

On September 2, 2025, Gravity introduced Orion, a multi-agent AI platform designed to enhance enterprise decision-making by automating data analysis and providing actionable insights. Read more

MediaFuse Joins Google for Startups Cloud Program

MediaFuse, a PR distribution network, has been accepted into the Google for Startups Cloud Program to enhance its AI-driven press release distribution. Read more

DeepL Introduces AI Tool for Business Automation

DeepL has launched DeepL Agent, an AI tool aimed at automating business workflows like finance and sales. Currently in beta, it seeks to boost productivity by managing repetitive tasks. Read more

Captions Rebrands as Mirage, Focuses on AI Video Tools

The AI video app Captions has rebranded to Mirage and is shifting its focus towards AI research and tools for short-form video content. The company aims to enhance video production for brands using AI-generated content. Read more

Harmonyze AI Platform Boosts Sales at Heights and Goldfish

The Harmonyze AI Coaching™ platform has launched, leading to sales increases at Heights Wellness Retreat and Goldfish Swim School. Heights saw a 5.14% sales lift, while Goldfish experienced a 13% rise in financial KPIs. Read more

League Inc. Achieves 271% Growth with AI Strategy

League Inc. has announced surpassing 63 million contracted users, marking a 271% year-over-year growth. This growth is attributed to their AI-first strategy aimed at enhancing healthcare outcomes. Read more

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Salesforce's AI Shift: 4,000 Jobs Cut & Taco Bell's AI Overhaul - Sales & Marketing AI Weekly #22

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