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Meta Hires Ex-Salesforce AI CEO for Enterprise Push

Meta Hires Ex-Salesforce AI CEO for Enterprise Push
Image Credit: Meta Platforms, Inc.

Meta Platforms has appointed Clara Shih, former CEO of Salesforce AI, to lead its newly established Business AI group. This strategic move aims to enhance Meta's AI capabilities for business applications, making advanced AI tools more accessible to enterprises. Shih's extensive experience at Salesforce, particularly in developing AI tools like Agentforce, is expected to be instrumental in Meta's efforts to build generative AI tools and agents for the over 200 million businesses utilizing WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook each month.

Analysts view this hiring as a significant advancement in Meta's strategy to monetize its AI investments through business and enterprise applications. Brent Thill, an analyst at Jefferies, described Shih's appointment as a "mega AI hire," highlighting the potential for Meta to directly sell into the enterprise market and capitalize on its AI developments.

Meta has invested heavily in developing its own AI large language model, Llama, which powers the Meta.ai chatbot integrated into its platforms. Unlike competitors, Meta does not currently charge for access to a premium version of its AI chatbot. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has indicated that returns on these AI investments will come through improved user engagement and innovative AI-driven advertising solutions.

This strategic hire underscores Meta's commitment to expanding its AI capabilities and strengthening its position in the enterprise market. By leveraging Shih's expertise, Meta aims to develop advanced AI tools that enhance business operations and engagement across its platforms.

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