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Michael Fauscette
CEO & Chief Analyst at Arion Research LLC
Remote, United States
Michael is an experienced high-tech leader, board member, software industry analyst, podcast host and consultant. He is a thought leader and published author on emerging trends in business software, Agentic AI, CRM and customer experience strategies and technology, automation, AI and generative AI, and building a digital first enterprise. As a senior market researcher and leader Michael has deep experience in business software market research, starting new tech businesses and go-to-market models in large and small software companies.
Currently Michael is the Founder, CEO and Chief Analyst at Arion Research, a global cloud advisory firm; and an advisor to G2, Board Chairman at LocatorX, board member and fractional chief strategy officer at Spotlogic. He Co-Hosts the show In the Hot Seat on PPN and hosts the Disambiguation Podcast. Formerly the chief research officer at G2, he was responsible for helping software and services buyers use the crowdsourced insights, data, and community in the G2 marketplace. Prior to joining G2, Mr. Fauscette led IDC’s worldwide enterprise software application research group for almost ten years. He also held executive roles with seven software vendors including Autodesk, Inc. and PeopleSoft, Inc. and five VC-backed technology startups.
Michael works with technology vendors and brands providing thought leadership content development, AI strategy custom research, keynotes, podcasting and consulting. He often works with technology startups and enterprise vendors on business strategy, go to market strategies, customer advocacy strategies, product led growth, subscription business models and operations, product market positioning, competitive intelligence, leadership development, and product roadmaps.
Available For: Advising, Authoring, Consulting, Influencing, Speaking Travels From: Philadelphia
Speaking Topics: AI / Agentic AI strategies, customer experience strategies, digital first strategy, technology trends
Measuring Success: KPIs for Specialized AI Agent Performance
Arion Research LLC
June 01, 2025
Artificial intelligence technology has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. What began as experimental implementations of AI tools has evolved into sophisticated, specialized agents that now handle critical business operations across industries. These AI agents, the foundation of a digital workforce, aren't just answering simple questions anymore, they're managing complex customer interactions, analyzing vast datasets, making purchasing decisions, and even conducting sales conversations with remarkable autonomy.
This shift from experimental curiosity to operational necessity brings with it a fundamental challenge: how do we measure success when the "worker" is an AI agent rather than a human employee? Traditional automation metrics like uptime and processing speed, while still relevant, tell only part of the story. When an AI agent is making decisions that directly impact customer satisfaction, revenue generation, and business outcomes, we need a more nuanced approach to performance measurement.
The Three-Dimensional Framework for Agentic AI: A Strategic Guide to Autonomy, Authority, and Resilience
Arion Research LLC
May 24, 2025
As artificial intelligence systems become increasingly capable, organizations face a critical challenge: how to systematically design and deploy AI agents that operate with appropriate levels of independence while maintaining necessary human oversight and robust error handling. The traditional approach of viewing AI autonomy as a simple linear progression from "manual" to "fully automated" fails to capture the nuanced decisions required for real-world deployment.
This report introduces a comprehensive three-dimensional framework that provides a structured approach to understanding, designing, and implementing agentic AI systems. By examining three critical dimensions—Scope of Authority, Human Interaction Patterns, and Error Handling & Recovery—organizations can make more informed decisions about how to build AI systems that are both powerful and safe.
AI in Human Resources: Transforming Talent Acquisition, Employee Engagement, and Performance Management
Arion Research LLC
May 14, 2025
The integration of artificial intelligence into human resources is one of the most significant transformations in how organizations attract, develop, and retain talent. This report examines the rapidly evolving landscape of AI applications across the HR function, providing decision-makers with an analysis of current capabilities, implementation considerations, and future directions. We examine specific use cases across talent acquisition, employee engagement, and performance management to illustrate how AI is reshaping traditional HR practices and creating new possibilities for strategic workforce management.
AI-Powered Personalization in E-Commerce
Arion Research LLC
April 25, 2025
Personalization in e-commerce has evolved significantly over the past decade. What began as simple product recommendations based on rudimentary rule-based systems has evolved into sophisticated, predictive experiences that anticipate customer needs before they're even expressed. The journey from "customers who bought this also bought that" to today's hyper-personalized shopping experiences reflects not just technological advancement, but a fundamental shift in how retailers conceptualize the digital customer journey.
The Future of Adaptive Enterprises with Agentic AI
Arion Research LLC
April 01, 2025
Digital first businesses are undergoing rapid transformations as artificial intelligence (AI) moves from experimental technology to mission-critical infrastructure. Traditional enterprises are embracing AI to automate routine tasks, analyze rapidly growing datasets, and enhance decision-making processes. This initial wave of AI adoption has already delivered substantial efficiency gains and cost reductions while opening new avenues for innovation.
Yet we are in the early stages of an even more significant revolution: the rise of Agentic AI. Unlike traditional AI applications that operate within narrow, predefined parameters, Agentic AI systems possess autonomy, initiative, and the capacity for self-improvement. These systems don't merely respond to commands—they anticipate needs, take independent action, and continuously refine their capabilities based on outcomes.
Dynamic Pathways: Autonomous AI and the Evolution of Customer Journey Mapping
Arion Research LLC
March 26, 2025
TL;DR
Autonomous AI transforms customer journey mapping from static planning exercises into dynamic, adaptive processes that evolve in real-time based on individual customer behaviors and preferences.
Multimodal AI capabilities enable hyperpersonalization by simultaneously analyzing diverse inputs (text, voice, behavior patterns, contextual information) to develop a comprehensive understanding of customer needs.
AI-driven anticipatory customer service shifts support from reactive to proactive, identifying and addressing potential issues before customers experience significant disruption.
Emotionally intelligent AI systems recognize and respond appropriately to customer emotional states, transforming transactions into meaningful connections that acknowledge the human experience.
Autonomous AI serves as an orchestration layer across channels and touchpoints, creating seamless omnichannel experiences without requiring extensive reengineering of underlying systems.
Human-AI collaborative models represent the next evolution, blending AI's analytical capabilities with human intuition and emotional intelligence to handle complex customer interactions.
The Role of Planning and Reasoning in Next-Generation AI Agents
Arion Research LLC
March 22, 2025
TL;DR
-Advanced AI planning capabilities transform systems from reactive tools into proactive agents that can break down complex problems, consider alternatives, and adapt strategies in dynamic environments.
-AI reasoning encompasses logical, probabilistic, and commonsense approaches that enable systems to draw conclusions, make inferences beyond stated facts, and justify decisions through coherent logic.
-Hybrid architectures combining neural networks with symbolic systems represent the most promising direction for AI development, leveraging pattern recognition alongside explicit reasoning.
-Next-generation AI agents will enable autonomous task execution, human-like problem solving, enhanced decision making, and long-term goal management across various domains.
-Significant challenges remain in computational complexity, handling uncertainty, ensuring ethical operation, and integrating advanced capabilities into practical applications.
-The future will see AI evolve from tools that extend human capabilities to partners that complement human thinking, reshaping industries and enabling new forms of human-AI collaboration.
Measuring the ROI of AI Investments
Arion Research LLC
February 25, 2025
The Rising Importance of AI Investments
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of modern business strategy. Organizations across industries are leveraging AI to enhance efficiency, improve decision-making, and drive innovation. From automating routine tasks to enabling advanced predictive and prescriptive analytics, AI has the potential to generate substantial business value. However, assessing the financial and strategic returns of AI investments remains a challenge.
Research Brief: ZohoDay Analyst Summit 2025
Arion Research LLC
February 23, 2025
TL;DR:
-Enterprise Expansion: Zoho is evolving beyond its SMB roots, introducing domain-specific application platforms tailored for enterprise needs, including CX, finance, and IT service management.
-AI-Driven Innovation: The company’s AI strategy, Zia AI, is built on contextual intelligence, AI-powered digital employees (Zia Agents), and proprietary large language models (LLMs), with a strong emphasis on privacy and long-term value.
-Unified Technology Stack: Zoho’s vertically integrated tech stack ensures seamless interoperability across its 55+ business applications, with built-in AI, low-code/no-code tools, and security features.
-Partner Ecosystem Growth: Zoho is expanding its partnerships with GSIs, resellers, and service providers, fostering co-creation of vertical-specific solutions and extending its market reach.
-Industry-Specific Platforms: The company is investing in vertical SaaS, offering tailored solutions for financial services, retail, automotive, and other industries, with compliance-ready and AI-powered capabilities.
-Sustainable & Privacy-First AI: Unlike competitors relying on third-party AI providers, Zoho builds its own AI models and operates 16+ global data centers, prioritizing control, security, and sustainable infrastructure.
Research Brief: SugarCRM Analyst Summit 2025
Arion Research LLC
February 20, 2025
TL;DR:
-AI-Driven CRM Innovation – SugarCRM leverages its Sugar Intelligence AI engine to enhance automation, predictive analytics, and data-driven insights across sales, marketing, and customer service functions.
-Flexible Deployment & Customization – Offering both cloud-based and on-premises solutions, SugarCRM differentiates itself with low-code/no-code customization and an open architecture.
-Revamped Partner Strategy – The company has restructured its partner program to drive growth through simplified engagement, vertical market expansion, and cloud marketplace collaboration.
-Competitive Positioning – Positioned as a strong alternative to Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and HubSpot, SugarCRM emphasizes automation, industry-specific solutions, and freedom from vendor lock-in.
The Impact of AI on Business Resilience
Arion Research LLC
February 17, 2025
AI plays a pivotal role in business resilience by enhancing risk detection, decision-making, and operational adaptability. Organizations are transitioning from reactive to proactive resilience planning through AI-powered insights and automation.
Ways AI enhances business resilience include:
Predictive risk assessment – AI models forecast disruptions and recommend preventive measures.
Automated response systems – AI-powered automation enables rapid responses to incidents.
Data-driven scenario planning – AI simulates potential risks to help businesses prepare for different contingencies.
Enhanced cybersecurity – AI-driven threat detection and prevention mechanisms safeguard IT infrastructures.
Supply chain optimization – AI helps mitigate disruptions by improving supply chain forecasting and responsiveness.
AI enables organizations to develop robust, adaptive resilience strategies that not only prevent crises but also create competitive advantages in navigating disruptions.
AI Driven Business Decisions
Arion Research LLC
January 31, 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept; it is actively reshaping the business landscape today. Organizations across industries are leveraging AI to process vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and automate decision-making in ways that were once impossible. AI enhances efficiency, improves accuracy, and introduces strategic agility that helps businesses stay ahead in an increasingly competitive and data-driven world.
The Impact of AI on Employee Productivity
Arion Research LLC
January 04, 2025
In today’s fast-paced and competitive business environment, productivity is a critical metric for success. Organizations are constantly seeking ways to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and empower employees to focus on high-value activities. AI offers a transformative solution by streamlining operations and enabling employees to achieve more in less time. From automating mundane tasks to providing actionable insights through advanced analytics, AI acts as a powerful enabler of productivity.
Autonomous AI Agents: Automating the Enterprise
Arion Research LLC
December 14, 2024
Autonomous AI agents are transforming enterprises by automating complex tasks, enabling scalable solutions, and improving decision-making. These agents leverage advanced technologies like Large Language Models (LLMs), machine learning frameworks, and natural language processing to function independently with minimal human intervention. Business leaders can deploy these agents across functions such as customer service, sales, operations, and finance to achieve cost savings, enhance efficiency, and deliver superior customer experiences.
Decision Intelligence Trends for 2025
Arion Research LLC
December 03, 2024
In the rapidly evolving world of enterprise artificial intelligence (AI), decision intelligence (DI) is poised to become a transformative force for businesses in 2025. As companies navigate increasingly complex decision-making environments, decision intelligence is a key enabler of smarter, faster, and more scalable decisions. Leveraging AI, machine learning (ML), and integrated data models, DI is set to redefine how organizations make routine and high-stakes decisions alike.
Customer Experience Trends for 2025
Arion Research LLC
November 15, 2024
The world of customer experience (CX) continues to be transformed, driven by rapid advancements in technology and evolving consumer expectations. This research brief, Customer Experience Trends for 2025, explores the ten most impactful trends reshaping CX strategies for businesses worldwide. From hyper-personalized journeys enabled by AI to the rise of autonomous CX agents and ethical data practices, these trends are poised to redefine how organizations interact with their customers.
Key highlights include:
The integration of large behavioral models (LBMs) to create dynamic, individualized customer journeys.
The emergence of sophisticated AI agents like Salesforce's Agentforce, capable of end-to-end interactions.
A renewed focus on data ethics, emotional AI, and sustainability in shaping future CX.
A Use Case Driven Approach to Selecting the Ideal Language Model
Arion Research LLC
November 12, 2024
Language models are transforming industries by enabling businesses to automate communication, generate content, analyze data, and improve decision-making. However, with the growing variety of language models available—ranging from small, efficient models to large, advanced systems—choosing the right one for a specific use case has become increasingly challenging. Each type of language model offers unique capabilities and trade-offs, and their effectiveness depends heavily on the context in which they are deployed.
This report aims to guide organizations in understanding which type of language model best fits their needs. By breaking down the strengths, limitations, and unique use cases of Small, Medium, Large, Industry-Specific, Liquid Foundation, Large Behavioral, and Large Action Models, we provide a structured framework to help you identify the most appropriate technology for your specific applications.
Research Brief: AI Trends for 2025
Arion Research LLC
November 04, 2024
As we look ahead to 2025, it’s clear that artificial intelligence is continuing to evolve at a rapid pace, pushing boundaries and unlocking new opportunities. This research brief dives into some of the most transformative AI trends on the horizon. From specialized language models tailored to specific industries to the rise of autonomous agents and multimodal capabilities, each trend points to a future where AI is more adaptive, insightful, and seamlessly integrated into our daily workflows. As organizations increasingly rely on AI for decision-making, personalization, and efficiency, these trends will help guide how businesses can stay ahead in a highly dynamic landscape.
The Small Business Guide to AI
Arion Research LLC
October 31, 2024
In a business environment where every advantage counts, small businesses can now harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to effectively compete with larger enterprises. The increased availability of AI enabled software has opened up a world of opportunities for smaller enterprises to level the playing field. This guide is focused on how AI can serve as a powerful force multiplier, enabling small businesses to maximize their efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and make data-driven decisions—all while operating with limited resources.
The Board Member’s Guide to Enterprise AI
Arion Research LLC
October 23, 2024
In the rapidly evolving technological landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands as a transformative force reshaping industries and redefining competitive advantages. For board members and organizational leaders, understanding AI is no longer optional; it is a critical imperative. This research report, "The Board Members' Guide to Enterprise AI," is designed to provide an accessible yet comprehensive overview of AI's potential, challenges, and strategic implications for businesses.
As custodians of corporate governance and strategic direction, board members play a vital role in guiding their organizations through the complexities of digital transformation. This guide will demystify AI concepts and terminology, equipping you with the knowledge needed to engage in informed discussions, evaluate AI initiatives, and make strategic decisions that drive innovation and growth. We will explore key topics, including the fundamentals of AI, its applications across various sectors, the ethical considerations that come with its implementation, and frameworks for assessing AI readiness within your organization.
Whether your organization is just beginning its AI journey or seeking to enhance existing initiatives, this guide will serve as a valuable resource. Together, let us navigate the exciting world of enterprise AI, ensuring your board is well-prepared to harness its transformative potential for sustainable success.
Research Brief: Salesforce Dreamforce 2024
Arion Research LLC
September 29, 2024
-Salesforce Dreamforce 2024 focused heavily on generative AI, automation, and data-driven customer experiences with over 1,500 sessions covering these innovations.
-Salesforce introduced Agentforce, a new AI platform enabling companies to create autonomous agents for service, sales, and marketing, marking a significant step beyond traditional chatbots.
-New AI language models like xGen-Sales and xLAM were launched to automate complex tasks in sales and other business processes.
-Salesforce expanded its AI capabilities across industries with over 100 specific AI tools and a comprehensive use case library, addressing unique challenges in sectors like healthcare and retail.
-Salesforce Ventures announced an additional $500 million AI investment, bringing their total AI funding to $1 billion, aimed at supporting startups driving AI innovation.
Research Brief: Zoho Analytics 6.0 Sept 2024 Release
Arion Research LLC
September 17, 2024
-AI and ML Enhancements: Zoho Analytics now includes advanced diagnostic insights, predictive analysis, and automated report generation, powered by its AI engine, Zia. It also introduces a no-code Data Science and Machine Learning (DSML) Studio for building custom ML models.
-Generative AI Integration: The platform features OpenAI integration, allowing more efficient natural language query responses and deeper contextual insights through Zia Insights.
-Improved Data Management: The latest version expands its data connectors with real-time Stream Analytics and enhanced ETL pipelines. The Unified Metrics Layer helps businesses standardize and manage metrics across various departments.
-Platform Extensibility: With a no-code connector builder, BI fabric, and third-party platform integration (like Power BI and Tableau), Zoho Analytics becomes more adaptable for custom integrations and workflows.
Research Brief: Oracle CloudWorld and SuiteWorld 2024
Arion Research LLC
September 16, 2024
-Multicloud Expansion: Oracle broadened its partnerships with AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, enhancing its database services' accessibility across platforms.
-AI-Powered Applications: New AI-driven features for Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications enhance decision-making through predictive analytics in HCM, SCM, and ERP systems.
-OCI Zettascale Computing: Oracle launched its first zettascale cloud computing cluster, leveraging NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs to support large-scale AI model training and high-performance computing.
-SuiteWorld Innovations: NetSuite introduced AI-powered tools for financial management, data analysis, and automation, along with i
Research Brief: IBM AI Strategy
Arion Research LLC
August 20, 2024
Background and History: IBM has a rich history in AI, beginning in the 1950s with significant advancements such as the IBM 701 computer and the development of Deep Blue, which defeated chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997.
Watson and Cognitive Computing: IBM Watson gained worldwide recognition after winning Jeopardy! in 2011, showcasing IBM's prowess in natural language processing, machine learning, and information retrieval, with applications in healthcare, finance, and customer service.
AI Ethics and Governance: IBM is dedicated to ethical AI development, implementing principles and tools for fairness, transparency, and accountability to ensure unbiased and trustworthy AI systems.
Diverse AI Product Offerings: IBM offers a wide range of AI products, including Watsonx Assistant for customer interactions, Watson Studio for model building, Maximo Application Suite for asset management, and Environmental Intelligence Suite for weather and environmental response.
Recent Developments: IBM's Watsonx platform integrates AI and data management tools, including Watsonx.ai, Watsonx.data, and Watsonx.governance, while IBM Granite provides robust models for natural language processing, coding, time series analysis, and geospatial data processing. InstructLab is a component within IBM's Watsonx AI and data platform, designed to enhance and facilitate the customization of foundation models for specific enterprise needs.
Research Brief: Adobe AI Strategy
Arion Research LLC
July 25, 2024
Adobe has a long history of integrating AI into its products, primarily through its AI and machine learning framework called Adobe Sensei. Launched in 2016, Adobe Sensei aims to streamline creative processes, enhance marketing strategies, and improve document workflows by leveraging AI and machine learning. Adobe has continuously invested in AI research and development, partnering with academic institutions and integrating advanced AI capabilities into its products. This RB provides a detailed look at their current AI offerings and future strategy.
Manufacturing's Digital Workforce: Beyond Automation to Intelligent Production
Arion Research LLC
June 20, 2025
The factory floor is experiencing a transformation that goes far beyond the mechanical automation we've known for decades. While traditional automation focused on replacing human muscle with machines, today's manufacturing revolution centers on creating intelligent systems that can think, adapt, and collaborate. This shift is the emergence of what we call the "digital workforce”; a sophisticated ecosystem where artificial intelligence agents, smart robots, and connected systems work alongside human workers to create truly intelligent production environments.
The Digital Workforce Revolution Is Here: What 442 Business Leaders Just Revealed About Agentic AI
Arion Research LLC
June 14, 2025
The business world is undergoing a transformation that most organizations are still struggling to understand. While everyone talks about artificial intelligence, a new category of AI systems, agentic AI, is quietly reshaping how work gets done. These aren't just tools that require constant human direction. They're digital workers capable of autonomous action, complex reasoning, and goal-directed behavior.
After eighteen months of research, interviews with leading practitioners, and extensive analysis of implementation approaches, I'm excited to announce my upcoming book: "Building the Digital Workforce: Strategies for Agentic AI Success." More importantly, I want to share some surprising findings from our comprehensive survey of 442 business leaders that challenge everything we thought we knew about Agentic AI adoption in the enterprise.
Agentic AI Communication Protocols: The Infrastructure of Intelligent Coordination
Arion Research LLC
June 14, 2025
Agentic AI is a paradigm shift from traditional AI systems that simply respond to queries (reactive) toward autonomous systems capable of perceiving their environment, reasoning about complex situations, and taking independent action to achieve goals (proactive). These intelligent agents can operate across diverse use cases, from managing customer service workflows to coordinating robotic systems in manufacturing environments. Unlike static AI models, agentic systems demonstrate agency through their ability to plan multi-step processes, adapt to changing conditions, and collaborate with both humans and other AI systems.
Integration Challenges: Making Agents Work with Legacy Systems
Arion Research LLC
June 11, 2025
The promise of autonomous AI agents is compelling; intelligent systems that can handle complex workflows, make decisions, and execute tasks with minimal human intervention. For most businesses though, the biggest obstacle isn't building the agents themselves, but integrating them with the systems that run their business: aging, complex legacy infrastructure that powers mission-critical operations. Many companies have invested decades in building robust systems that handle everything from customer transactions to supply chain management. These systems work, but they weren't designed for the fast, flexible data access that AI agents require. Legacy systems are often siloed, poorly documented, and surprisingly fragile despite their critical importance. The result is a painful mismatch between what agents need to function effectively and what existing enterprise infrastructure can readily provide.
The Agentic Advantage: How AI Agents Create Sustainable Competitive Moats
Arion Research LLC
June 05, 2025
Business is undergoing a profound transformation from a rapidly evolving set of AI technologies. While most companies are still grappling with basic AI implementation, using large language models and generative AI for content generation or basic automation, a new paradigm has emerged that promises to reshape business competitive dynamics. This paradigm centers on agentic AI: autonomous, goal-oriented systems that don't just respond to prompts but actively pursue objectives, learn from their environment, and adapt their behavior over time.
Selling Agentic AI Internally: Overcoming Executive and Employee Resistance
Arion Research LLC
June 02, 2025
The promise of agentic AI is transformative, but internal resistance can stall progress before it begins. While the technology itself may be ready, organizations often find their greatest challenge isn't technical implementation but rather navigating the complex web of stakeholder concerns, cultural inertia, and change resistance that emerges when introducing AI agents into existing workflows.
Success in deploying agentic AI requires more than just selecting the right technology stack or use cases. It demands a sophisticated approach to change management, stakeholder engagement, and organizational psychology. This article explores how to position agentic AI initiatives within an organization, focusing on strategies that address resistance at every level, from the C-suite to the front lines.
The Skills Revolution: Preparing Your Workforce for Human-Agent Collaboration
Arion Research LLC
May 31, 2025
Agentic AI, and its potential to create a digital workforce, is reshaping the nature of work itself. Unlike previous waves of automation that primarily replaced manual tasks, autonomous AI agents can collaborate with humans on complex cognitive work ranging from strategic planning and creative problem-solving to relationship management and decision-making. As companies move to the hybrid workforce, we need a complete rethinking of workforce development, moving beyond traditional reskilling approaches to embrace new models of human-agent collaboration.
Salesforce Makes Major AI Data Play with $8 Billion Informatica Acquisition
Arion Research LLC
May 27, 2025
Complete, high-quality data is the foundation for any successful AI initiative, and automating data management is essential for a scalable agentic AI solution. Salesforce, with its Data Cloud, provides a solid data foundation, but has gaps in data automation and governance. Informatica fills in those gaps and more. Salesforce is doubling down on its Agentic AI strategy by acquiring enterprise data management leader Informatica for approximately $8 billion. This strategic move positions Salesforce to create what CEO Marc Benioff calls "the most complete, agent-ready data platform in the industry."
Google I/O 2025: AI Takes Center Stage with Gemini 2.5 and New Search Features
Arion Research LLC
May 25, 2025
Google's annual developer conference delivered a broad portfolio of AI-powered innovations this past week, reshaping how we'll interact with Google search, productivity tools, and creative applications. Here's everything you need to know about the biggest announcements from Google I/O 2025.
Google is accelerating AI integration across all its products, with Gemini 2.5 now powering enhanced search experiences, new subscription tiers offering premium AI access, and revolutionary tools for coding, creativity, and productivity. The company is clearly positioning itself as the leader in practical AI applications.
Agentforce in Slack: Transforming Workplace Productivity with AI-Powered Digital Teammates
Arion Research LLC
May 22, 2025
Your digital workforce is about to become as conversational and collaborative as your human team, thanks to Agentforce's native integration with Slack. With the launch of Agentforce for employees, organizations can now deploy specialized AI agents that work alongside teams in their existing collaboration spaces, transforming how work gets done.
From Tool to Team Member: How Specialized AI Agents Are Changing Organizational Structure
Arion Research LLC
May 18, 2025
As specialized AI agents gain autonomy, domain expertise, and decision-making capabilities, they're forcing a rethinking of organizational structures that have remained largely unchanged for decades. What began as basic automation tools handling repetitive tasks has evolved into sophisticated AI systems capable of advanced decision-making support and complex reasoning. This evolution is more than just technological advancement, it’s a significant shift in how we conceptualize AI's role in the workplace.
The GTM Team and the Digital Workforce: Redefining Revenue Generation
Arion Research LLC
May 16, 2025
The traditional Go-To-Market (GTM) team and models have been the backbone of revenue generation for businesses of all sizes. Historically structured around distinct human-driven functions: marketing creates awareness, sales drives conversion, and customer success ensures retention. These teams operated in a largely analog world despite digital tools supporting their work. For several reasons this model isn’t working correctly anymore. Customers mostly don’t buy the way sellers sell.
It’s time for a rethinking of this paradigm. Digital transformation has radically altered GTM dynamics, introducing new channels, dissolving boundaries between functions, and creating a mountain of customer data. The emergence of a digital workforce; intelligent systems powered by AI, automation, and digital agents, has potential to accelerate the transformation and to greatly improve outcomes.
Headless AI Agents: Decoupling Interfaces from Intelligence
Arion Research LLC
May 10, 2025
For businesses seeking to integrate AI capabilities across their digital ecosystem, a significant challenge has been the inefficiency of building separate AI solutions for each application or channel. Enter headless AI agents—a revolutionary approach that decouples intelligence from interfaces, allowing organizations to develop AI capabilities once and deploy them everywhere, invisibly powering decisions across the enterprise.
Advanced Retrieval Approaches for Agentic Systems: How to Select the Best Fit for Your Agents
Arion Research LLC
May 06, 2025
Autonomous, goal-driven agents are capable of planning, executing actions, and learning from outcomes without continuous human oversight. As these systems grow in complexity and capability, their need for precise, context-aware information retrieval becomes increasingly critical. In the architecture of intelligent agents, retrieval systems serve as both the foundation and scaffolding—determining not just what information is accessible, but how it flows through the reasoning process to produce meaningful actions.
The Role of Semantics in Agentic AI: Enabling Context, Intent, and Understanding
Arion Research LLC
May 03, 2025
Artificial intelligence systems are rapidly evolving from reactive tools designed for narrow tasks to autonomous systems capable of tackling complex problems with minimal human intervention. These "agentic" AI systems, with their capability to operate autonomously, offer great potential value for businesses, but a crucial question remains: how do these agents "understand" enough to act meaningfully in our world? The answer lies in semantics – the study of meaning in language and symbols. Semantic understanding provides the conceptual framework that AI agents need to interpret inputs, reason through tasks, and make autonomous decisions that align with human goals. This article explores how semantics enables context-awareness, intent recognition, and decision-making capabilities that define modern agentic AI systems.
AI Agent Collaboration Models: How Different Specialized Agents Can Work Together
Arion Research LLC
April 29, 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving beyond single, generalist autonomous agents toward ecosystems of specialized AI agents working in concert. While powerful generalist agents provide remarkable versatility, the future of AI systems increasingly resembles human organizations—specialized entities collaborating to tackle complex challenges that exceed any individual's capabilities.
The Process-Led Approach to Agentic AI
Arion Research LLC
April 27, 2025
As organizations race to deploy increasingly autonomous AI systems, a critical question emerges: how do we harness their power while maintaining alignment with business goals? We've moved beyond simple reactive tools to autonomous agents capable of goal-driven behavior—what we now call "agentic AI." These systems can independently plan, reason, and take actions to achieve objectives with minimal human supervision. However, as these agentic systems evolve from isolated use cases to orchestrated, multi-agent workflows, their complexity increases exponentially.
From Generalists to Specialists: The Evolution of Business AI Implementation Strategies
Arion Research LLC
April 26, 2025
Today, we're witnessing a fundamental shift in how enterprises implement AI. As business challenges grow more complex and stakeholders demand measurable outcomes, implementation strategies are evolving from generalized experimentation toward highly specialized, domain-specific, and outcome-driven deployments. This evolution represents more than a technical shift—it signals a new phase of AI maturity where success depends not just on having artificial intelligence, but on having the right kind of intelligence for specific business contexts.
From Commands to Goals: How Agentic AI is Transforming Robot Decision-Making
Arion Research LLC
April 17, 2025
For decades, robots have operated primarily through explicit programming—following precise commands and executing predetermined routines with remarkable precision but limited adaptability. Today, we stand at the threshold of a fundamental shift in how robots interact with the world around them. The surge in agentic artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities is transforming robots from mere instruction-followers into goal-oriented, autonomous decision-makers.
Tool Use and Integration: How AI Agents Are Learning to Use External Systems
Arion Research LLC
April 17, 2025
The next frontier in AI development isn't merely about making systems smarter, but about teaching them to reach beyond their boundaries and manipulate the digital world through tool use. This transition marks a critical inflection point in the development of AI capabilities. The ability to effectively use tools is not merely an add-on feature but represents a core capability for AI systems to progress from being merely assistive to potentially autonomous.
Smarter, Not Bigger: How RARE Makes Domain-Specific Reasoning Scalable
Arion Research LLC
April 10, 2025
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved in capabilities over the past few years as more and more businesses realize the competitive advantage of its use. The need to incorporate AI into business operations has created a situation where organizations face a fundamental challenge: they need artificial intelligence that can reason deeply about specialized domains, but without the massive computational requirements of large language models (LLMs). As businesses increasingly deploy AI solutions for specific business functions—from customer support to legal research—the demand for compact, efficient models has never been higher.
Agentic AI vs. LLMs: Understanding the Shift from Reactive to Proactive AI
Arion Research LLC
April 09, 2025
Artificial intelligence is entering a transformative new era. While large language models (LLMs) have revolutionized how we generate and interact with information, the emergence of Agentic AI represents a fundamental shift from reactive to proactive intelligence. This evolution promises to redefine applications, workflows, and value creation across industries.
Multi-Agent Systems: When Teams of AI Work Together
Arion Research LLC
April 06, 2025
Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) represent one of the most promising and rapidly evolving areas in artificial intelligence (AI) research and application. At their core, these systems are made up of multiple intelligent agents working together to solve problems that would be difficult or impossible for a single agent to handle alone. Similar to human teams, these digital collaborators combine their individual capabilities, share information, coordinate their actions, and collectively make decisions to achieve common objectives.
Managing the Digital Workforce
Arion Research LLC
April 04, 2025
The digital workforce is a revolutionary paradigm in modern business operations, built with AI-powered digital agents, automation tools, robotic process automation (RPA), and large language model-based assistants that perform tasks traditionally handled by humans. As organizations increasingly adopt these agentic technologies, effectively managing this digital workforce has become critical for achieving strategic business objectives and maintaining competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Leveraging AI to Predict and Drive Sales Success: How Generative Models are Helping Sales Teams Target the Right Leads
Arion Research LLC
March 29, 2025
In a digital-first business, artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from a futuristic concept to an essential competitive advantage, particularly in sales. As organizations face growing pressure to increase efficiency and revenue while dealing with changing buyer behavior, AI tools have emerged as powerful allies for sales teams seeking to identify and convert the most promising opportunities. Generative AI, in particular, is a significant leap beyond traditional analytics, offering sales teams the capability to understand, predict, and influence customer behavior.
Generative AI Industry Use Cases
Arion Research LLC
August 27, 2024
The other way to examine generative AI is in specific industry vertical applications. The path of horizontal technology often leads to more industry focused functionality that addresses the unique needs and requirements of each vertical. This infographic breaks down some of the more compelling industry vertical use cases. These use cases build off the base categories (see the previous use case infographic) to meet specific needs in each covered vertical.
Generative AI Use Cases
Arion Research LLC
August 24, 2024
The business use cases for generative AI are very diverse, with new applications of the technology popping up nearly weekly. To better understand the potential of generative AI, it’s useful to break it down into the major use categories, and then work down from there into more detail. The model is an attempt to capture the current use cases as categories.
Large Action Models
Arion Research LLC
August 08, 2024
Large Action Models (LAMs) are a new advancement in AI that builds upon the capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs). LAMs leverage a combination of existing AI technologies to bridge the gap between understanding language and taking action in the digital world.
Business Adoption and Use of Artificial Intelligence
Arion Research LLC
August 05, 2023
Arion Research conducted a survey of 402 people in North America on AI adoption in August 2023. This infographic presents some of the preliminary finding and a small sample of some of the high level data from that survey.
Business Adoption and Use of AI
BrightVision
October 04, 2023
In this week's Tech Marketing Trends episode, Jakob Löwenbrand welcomes Michael Fauscette, a tech veteran with a rich background including roles at PeopleSoft, Autodesk, and as Chief Research Officer at G2. Michael is here to discuss his latest report on business adoption and use of AI.
BIG CX News – The Latest on Microsoft Sales Copilot, Salesforce AI Cloud, and Zoom In WFM
CX Today
August 11, 2023
CX Today’s Charlie Mitchell presents the latest trending news from the customer experience world.
He’s joined by five prominent CX analysts to dissect the latest stories from the space – including news from Microsoft, Salesforce, and Zoom.
In this edition, our CX experts include:
Liz Miller, VP & Principal Analyst at Constellation Research
Rebecca Wetteman, Principal at Valoir
Michael Fauscette, Founder, CEO & Chief Analyst at Arion Research
Shelly Kramer, Principal Analyst at V3B
Martin Schneider, Head of Research at Annuitas Research
BIG CX News – The Latest on Verint’s CCaaS Move & the Genesys Experience Index
CX Today
July 11, 2023
CX Today’s Charlie Mitchell presents the latest trending news from the customer experience world. He’s joined by three prominent CX analysts to dissect the latest stories from the space – including news from Verint and Genesys.
In this edition, our CX experts include:
Liz Miller, VP & Principal Analyst at Constellation Research
Rebecca Wetteman, Principal at Valoir
Michael Fauscette, Founder, CEO & Chief Analyst at Arion Research
The Latest on Zoom’s AI Assistant, Twilio’s Losses, & a Possible RingCentral-8×8 Merger
CX Today
June 02, 2023
CX Today’s Charlie Mitchell presents the latest trending news from the customer experience world.
He’s joined by four prominent CX analysts to dissect the latest stories from the space – including news from Zoom, Twilio, Lifesize, RingCentral, and 8×8.
In this edition, our CX experts include:
Dave Michaels, Lead Analyst at TalkingPointz.com
Liz Miller, VP & Principal Analyst at Constellation Research
Rebecca Wetteman, Principal at Valoir
Michael Fauscette, Founder, CEO & Chief Analyst at Arion Research
Tags: Customer Experience, Mergers and Acquisitions
Just like Coffee - Digital Transformation is not ONE and done
Digital Evolution Forum
March 14, 2022
Companies are now focussing on the digital experience they provide to their customers and their staff. When digitally transforming it is important to understand it is not a one and done. In order to become a fully digitised business, you must look at all of your operations in a new light. CEO & Chief Analyst, Arion Research, Michael Fauscette explains digital transformation is all about the people, not the technology and how to shift towards a digital-first mindset.
Tags: Business Strategy, Digital Disruption, Digital Transformation
Ep. 24 - Business Innovation And Technology Research with Michael Fauscette
YouTube
November 04, 2021
This episode of the Success Fundamentals Podcast features Michael Fauscette, CEO & Chief Analyst of Arion Research and Advisor to G2 and Entercom.io. A career in tech is not dependent on your educational background.
Michael's story of success found him in many different fields trying many things out before he found his way to tech. His background in music lent a different way of learning but his natural curiosity is what drove him forward.
After a decade of experience in engineering and software while in the Navy, Michael adapted post-Navy to a life in tech. He shares that you define your success and passion is the only reason you should be doing it.
He shares his thoughts on money as a tool and power as best wielded by servant leaders. Finally, Michael shares his current initiatives like an upcoming book and his role in Arion Research.
Curiosity Doesn't Kill the Cat with Michael Fauscette
Success Fundamentals
November 04, 2021
This episode of the Success Fundamentals Podcast features Michael Fauscette, CEO & Chief Analyst of Arion Research and Advisor to G2 and Entercom.io. A career in tech is not dependent on your educational background.
Tags: Digital Disruption, Startups, Entrepreneurship
CRM Playaz Weekly with Mike Fauscette
YouTube
April 08, 2021
Advisor, Board Chair, Influence, Analyst, Thought Leader, Jazz Aficionado and Expert Photographer Mike Fauscette joins us to shoot the stuff about whatever comes to our mind....
CRMKonvo #25 Michael Fauscette on CX Trends Analysts and photography
YouTube
December 02, 2020
We will discuss 2021 trends, views on the best and worst buzzwords on the market, the role of CDPs and an actually usable AI.
Michael is a renowned analyst and author, with more than 20 years of experience in and around the CRM industry. He is the Chief Research Officer at G2, an analyst firm that bases its analyses on customer feedback. Our discussion topics will include the role of analysts — whether they are serving their purpose well and what could be improved, the meaning of CX, trends and, of course, the worst industry buzzwords of the year.
And some photography.
As usual - it is a conversation and might lead different directions.
How to get the right technology to power mobile marketing success
MarketingSherpa
January 15, 2019
To truly leverage mobile marketing, it takes three crucial elements — the right plan, the right technology to power that plan, and great creative ideas to make use of that technology for the customer’s benefit.
We sat down with Michael Fauscette, Chief Research Officer, G2 Crowd, to give you ideas for your brand’s mobile marketing strategy — discussing everything from AR and beacons to single view of the customer to data-driven marketing to vendor selection.
Competitive Advantage: It’s Not Just About the Technology, It’s About the Frame of Reference
CxOTalk
October 09, 2015
Creating the right environment to connect with customers, employees and partners is not just about doing the same thing we have always done. If we do more of the same thing we don’t have the right frame of reference. The Business Modernization framework is a way to look at all aspects of the business and identify what the new way to operate should be, identify the technology that can enable that, then identify the culture shifts and the change that needs to happen to enable the business to be effective in today's environment.
Tags: Business Strategy, Digital Disruption, Digital Transformation
Customer Edge TV: The Modern Customer Journey Map CRM
Customer Edge TV
October 03, 2014
Mike Fauscette, Group VP of Software Business Solutions at IDC discusses modernizing customer journey mapping and building customer experience models. He takes us through the stages of buying: Need, Brand Awareness, Education, Evaluation, Decision, Purchase, Advocate. They also touch upon how mobile changes this model.
#14: CXOTalk with Michael Fauscette
YouTube
June 14, 2013
CXO-Talk brings you live conversations on leadership, innovation, and transformation with people shaping the future. Your hosts are Michael Krigsman and Vala Afshar.
Community for a Complete Customer Experience Strategy: IDC's Michael Fauscette
YouTube
January 09, 2013
Your customers have adapted to the social age—they're tech savvy with lots of options and short attention spans. Your business must adapt along with them if you want to capture their attention and earn their loyalty. Michael Fauscette, Group VP of IDC's Software Business Solutions, discusses about the best way for companies to engage, interact, and provide a positive experience at every point in the customer lifecycle.
Disambiguation: June 2025 AI Pulse
Arion Research LLC
June 23, 2025
In this episode of Disambiguation, we dive into the latest developments in artificial intelligence, generative AI, and business automation in our June edition of AI Pulse. We explore a variety of recent AI news stories and their implications for business leaders navigating this rapidly evolving landscape.
The Digital Workforce Revolution
Arion Research LLC
June 16, 2025
Curious about the challenges organizations face when implementing agentic AI? We break down the key barriers and how to overcome them in this week's episode. Join the conversation and learn how to navigate this transformative landscape!
Solving the Trillion Dollar MRO Problem: How AI is Finally Fixing Industrial Supply Chains
Import from youtube.com
June 02, 2025
In this episode of the Disambiguation Podcast, host Michael Fauscette sits down with analyst relations expert Michael Ellis to explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on analyst relations (AR). They discuss the role of AR professionals, the importance of building relationships with industry analysts, and how AI tools are reshaping workflows in the field.
Disambiguation: May 2025 AI Pulse - Special
Arion Research LLC
May 26, 2025
Welcome to a special edition of AI Pulse on the Disambiguation Podcast! Join host Michael Fauscette and co-host Tom Pringle as they dive into the latest developments in artificial intelligence, generative AI, and business automation.
In this episode, we discuss:
-The whirlwind of AI news from the past week, including OpenAI's significant investment in hardware and the implications of AI-specific devices.
-The intriguing case of Anthropic's Claude 4 model, which exhibited unexpected behavior in a test environment, raising questions about AI's desire for survival.
-Google's recent announcements at I/O, including the shift to AI-driven search and the integration of ads in AI responses.
-The advancements in video generation technology and the potential for AI to revolutionize content creation.
Dynamic Pathways: AI and the Evolution of Customer Journeys
Arion Research LLC
April 28, 2025
In this episode, we explore insights from the latest report titled "Dynamic Pathways, Autonomous AI and the Evolution of Customer Journey Mapping." Discover how businesses are moving away from static customer journey maps to dynamic, real-time experiences that truly understand and anticipate customer needs.
Special Edition: Tableau Conference 2025
Arion Research LLC
April 21, 2025
What does "agentic analytics" mean for businesses? Join us as Umair Rauf, VP Product Management at Salesforce Tableau explains how AI can transform data into proactive insights, helping organizations make better decisions. Tune in now!
Disambiguation: April 2025 AI Pulse
Arion Research LLC
April 14, 2025
Welcome to the April edition of AI Pulse! In this episode, hosts Michael Fauscette and Tom Pringle dive into the latest developments in artificial intelligence, generative AI, and business automation.
Driving Business Value with Agentic AI
Arion Research LLC
April 07, 2025
Welcome to this episode of Disambiguation! Join host Michael Fauscette as he dives deep into the world of artificial intelligence, generative AI, agentic AI and business automation with expert Premkumar Balasubramanian, CTO of Hitachi Digital Services. In this episode, we explore the transformative power of agentic AI and how it is reshaping operations for businesses across various industries
Redefining Sales with AI
Arion Research LLC
March 31, 2025
Welcome to this week's episode of Disambiguation! Join host Michael Fauscette as he dives deep into the transformative impact of AI on sales with special guest Rob Ciampa, CEO and founder of Business Catalytics.
In this episode, we explore how AI is redefining the sales function from diagnosing organizational challenges to enhancing customer experiences. Rob shares his insights on the importance of data quality in CRM systems, the evolution of sales funnels, and the critical role of sales operations in leveraging AI tools effectively.
Welcome to the March edition of AI Pulse on the Disambiguation Podcast! Join your host, Michael Fauscette, and co-host Tom Pringle, as they dive into the latest trends and innovations in artificial intelligence, generative AI, and business automation.
In this episode, we explore the emerging concept of "Agentic" and discuss exciting announcements from major players like Adobe and Salesforce, including Adobe's army of AI agents for sales and marketing and Salesforce's updates to AgentForce. We also touch on the evolving landscape of AI funding, the complexities of technology stacks in organizations, and the potential of AI agents to solve data silos.
Special Edition Salesforce TDX 2025 Part Two
Arion Research LLC
March 17, 2025
In this episode of Disambiguation, I had the pleasure of continuing our special edition coverage from Salesforce TDX 2025, where I spoke with Kushwant Singh, SVP of Product Management at Salesforce. We discussed the concept of agentic AI, which Salesforce describes as a "digital neighbor" capable of reasoning, learning, and taking action to help organizations automate repetitive tasks while ensuring a personalized experience.
Kush explained how AgentForce differentiates itself from traditional AI by focusing on dynamic learning and personalized responses, emphasizing the importance of trust and governance in AI interactions. We discussed the growing adoption of agentic AI across various business functions, moving beyond just customer service to areas like project management and sales.
Special Edition Salesforce TDX 2025 Part One
Arion Research LLC
March 10, 2025
Welcome to a special edition of the Disambiguation podcast, recorded live from Salesforce TDX 2025 in San Francisco! Join host Michael Fauscette as he dives deep into the world of Agentic AI and Salesforce's innovative strategies with guests Jacob Lehrbaum, SVP of Product Marketing, and Gary Brandeleer, VP of Product Management. Plus, stay tuned for an exciting demonstration of the Agentic Robotic Operating System, showcasing how AI can be integrated with robotics to solve real-world problems with Charlie Isaacs, CTO Customer Connection and Julia Reguera, Sr Solution Engineer.
February 2025 AI Pulse
Arion Research LLC
February 17, 2025
Welcome to the February edition of the AI Pulse episode of the Disambiguation Podcast! Join your host, Michael Fauscette, and co-host Tom Pringle as they dive into the latest trends and developments in artificial intelligence, generative AI, and business automation.
In this episode, we explore:
-The significant $60 billion boost in enterprise cloud spending driven by the generative AI boom.
-The implications of DeepSeek's groundbreaking advancements in AI and its impact on the market.
-The ongoing debate around AI's return on investment and productivity gains across various industries.
-The rise of agentic AI and the challenges of managing a digital workforce.
-Exciting innovations like self-healing concrete that could revolutionize infrastructure.
Tune in for insightful discussions, expert opinions, and a touch of humor as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of AI technology. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes!
ZohoDay Analyst Summit 2025
Arion Research LLC
February 10, 2025
This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Raju Vegesna and Anand Nergunam from Zoho during the special edition of ZohoDay Analyst Summit 2025, held at a beautiful resort outside Austin.
Here are three key takeaways from our enlightening conversation:
The Shift Towards Agentic AI: We discussed how Zoho is embracing the concept of agentic AI, which empowers AI systems to take actions on behalf of users. This shift is not just about enhancing existing tools but about creating new opportunities for businesses to automate processes and improve customer interactions. Raju emphasized that while we are still in the early stages of this technology, the potential for innovation is immense. Businesses can leverage agentic AI to streamline operations, such as automating customer support responses or optimizing ticket routing.
Building Trust Through Data Privacy: Trust is paramount, especially when it comes to AI and data usage. Anand highlighted how Zoho prioritizes customer privacy by ensuring that AI models are built with a focus on data security. They utilize a framework called RAG (Retrievable Augmented Generation) to keep customer data isolated and secure while still allowing for powerful AI capabilities. This approach reassures enterprises that their sensitive information remains protected, fostering a more comfortable environment for adopting AI solutions.
The Importance of Customization and Vertical Solutions: Both Raju and Anand shared insights on how Zoho is moving towards a platform approach that allows for extensive customization tailored to specific industries. This is a significant departure from the traditional one-size-fits-all model. By focusing on vertical solutions, Zoho aims to provide businesses with the tools they need to address their unique challenges effectively. This customization not only enhances user experience but also drives better outcomes for businesses across various sectors.
Regaining Trust Through Connected Selling
Customer Gauge
March 12, 2019
In 2019, it’s time to ask the pertinent questions: Where are your customers going? What are they doing? And, most importantly, how will you meet them where they are? Using data from over 2 million B2B buyers per month, G2 Crowd’s Chief Research Officer, Michael Fauscette, discusses what clients are saying it takes for them to make a buying decision in today’s market.
How to communicate with mobile consumers to increase sales and loyal customers
Techcrunch
July 26, 2023
This time a survey of global consumers about channel preferences for communicating with businesses.
Highlights
1. The channels consumers prefer to communicate with businesses vary depending on the type of activity, level of trust and perceived personal risk
2. Email and phone top the list for trust, while SMS and social media are the least trusted channels for communicating with businesses
3. Businesses that over communicate through any channel will face negative consequences
4. Consumers prefer to communicate in real-time with businesses when seeking support
5. Retention, attention and advocacy are high value outcomes directly related to full spectrum communication strategy
Communication Channel Preferences for Mobile Consumers
Sendbird
May 10, 2023
Arion Research surveyed 1200 global consumers who use mobile apps about their communication channel preferences for interacting with businesses. The survey asked consumers 18 years and older from 14 countries around the world which channels they use, prefer, trust and pay attention to when interacting with businesses. The survey reveals that not all channels are equal for consumer trust and attention when it comes to different types of business communication.
*Why mobile apps matter as a channel to connect with customers
* Consumer preferences for push notifications from mobile apps
* How consumer experiences with SMS have changed in the past 12 months
* Consequences for poor business communication practices
Tags: CRM, Customer Experience, Digital Transformation
Gamification in the Workplace Webinar with Michael Fauscette
YouTube
September 16, 2013
This is an exclusive Webinar with IDC's VP of Software Business Solutions, Michael Fauscette.
In this webinar, Michael discusses how business gamification creates a more successful and engaging community experience for customers, employees and partners.
Generative AI Trends 2025: Moving Beyond LLMs: The Next Frontier in AI Innovation
Date : October 22, 2024
In the past two years, large language models (LLMs) have revolutionized the AI landscape, showcasing their remarkable capabilities in understanding and generating human-like text. Their versatility has led to widespread adoption across industries, powering applications from chatbots to content creation. This rapid innovation cycle has not only highlighted the potential of LLMs but also paved the way for the emergence of next-generation language models tailored to specific needs and contexts.
The Rise of Specialized Language Models
As organizations seek to leverage AI for more targeted applications, specialized language models are gaining traction. These models come in various sizes—small, medium, and large—each designed to meet the specific demands of different industries and domains. For example, a small model might be optimized for customer support interactions, while a large model could be tailored for complex legal document analysis. This specialization allows businesses to harness the power of AI in ways that are most relevant to their operations, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.
Large Action Models: Bridging the Gap
Another significant part of this trend is the development of large action models that go beyond mere text generation. These models are designed to understand and execute complex tasks, integrating various forms of input and output. This capability not only improves user experience but also enables businesses to automate workflows and make data-driven decisions more effectively. As large action models become more sophisticated, their applications will expand into areas such as process automation, decision support, and predictive analytics.
Liquid Foundation Models: The Future of Continuous Learning
One of the most exciting advancements on the horizon is the concept of liquid foundation models (LFMs). These models aim to minimize the need for extensive pretraining and enable continuous improvement without the traditional retraining processes. By leveraging a dynamic approach to learning, LFMs can adapt to new data and changing environments in real-time, making them highly responsive to the evolving needs of users. This shift represents a significant departure from the static nature of current LLMs, paving the way for more resilient and adaptable AI systems.
As we move beyond traditional LLMs, the future of AI is set to be defined by specialization, action-oriented capabilities, and continuous learning. The emergence of specialized LMs, large action models, and liquid foundation models reflects a broader trend toward more adaptable and efficient AI solutions. By embracing these innovations, organizations can unlock new possibilities for automation, decision-making, and customer engagement, ultimately transforming their operations in the process. The next phase of AI development promises to be as transformative as the last, as we explore the full potential of these next-generation models.
In the past two years, large language models (LLMs) have revolutionized the AI landscape, showcasing their remarkable capabilities in understanding and generating human-like text. Their versatility has led to widespread adoption across industries, powering applications from chatbots to content creation. This rapid innovation cycle has not only highlighted the potential of LLMs but also paved the way for the emergence of next-generation language models tailored to specific needs and contexts. The Rise of Specialized Language Models As organizations seek to leverage AI for more targeted applications, specialized language models are gaining traction. These models come in various sizes—small, medium, and large—each designed to meet the specific demands of different industries and domains. For example, a small model might be optimized for customer support interactions, while a large model could be tailored for complex legal document analysis. This specialization allows businesses to harness the power of AI in ways that are most relevant to their operations, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness. Large Action Models: Bridging the Gap Another significant part of this trend is the development of large action models that go beyond mere text generation. These models are designed to understand and execute complex tasks, integrating various forms of input and output. This capability not only improves user experience but also enables businesses to automate workflows and make data-driven decisions more effectively. As large action models become more sophisticated, their applications will expand into areas such as process automation, decision support, and predictive analytics. Liquid Foundation Models: The Future of Continuous Learning One of the most exciting advancements on the horizon is the concept of liquid foundation models (LFMs). These models aim to minimize the need for extensive pretraining and enable continuous improvement without the traditional retraining processes. By leveraging a dynamic approach to learning, LFMs can adapt to new data and changing environments in real-time, making them highly responsive to the evolving needs of users. This shift represents a significant departure from the static nature of current LLMs, paving the way for more resilient and adaptable AI systems. As we move beyond traditional LLMs, the future of AI is set to be defined by specialization, action-oriented capabilities, and continuous learning. The emergence of specialized LMs, large action models, and liquid foundation models reflects a broader trend toward more adaptable and efficient AI solutions. By embracing these innovations, organizations can unlock new possibilities for automation, decision-making, and customer engagement, ultimately transforming their operations in the process. The next phase of AI development promises to be as transformative as the last, as we explore the full potential of these next-generation models.
Over the next year generative AI continues to evolve rapidly, reinforcing and compounding the role it played in 2023 in democratizing and consumerizing AI. Generative AI providers will make several improvements including increasing conversational fluency, improving response accuracy and providing better tools for improving prompts. Application providers will continue to embed generative AI across the full range of enterprise applications, democratize the use by moving prompt engineering away from the user and into the middle layer which will simplify user interaction with the tools, and offering more applications tailored for individual industries. Companies will continue the focus on immediate outcomes for generative AI projects (productivity gains), moving from proof of concept and pilot projects to full production and increase investments in generative AI enabled applications, particularly for industry vertical use cases. The early adopter companies will start shifting from immediate outcomes (productivity) to strategies that systematize end-to-end solutions.
Location: virtual Fees: fee, equity or a blend of both tbd
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Senior leader with executive level experience in business software, services management, starting new businesses and business models in large and small software companies, and business turn-a-round. Direct experience leading all facets of technology companies including strategy, market intelligence, data analysis and visualization, consulting, research, product marketing, and services.
Experience:
-31+ years in high tech
-26+ years of executive leadership
-Executive at 5 venture backed technology startups including unicorn G2
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-17 years advising tech companies on strategy, go to market, competitors, product market fit, PLG
-16+ years leading market analysts, delivering strategy consulting and market intelligence
-Deep vertical industry expertise in high technology and services industries
-Board director, board chairman, advisor
Location: virtual Fees: $12,000 for client and up to 4 comp
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Develop a market analysis report and presentation for technology company product. Study includes a SWOT analysis of client and up to 4 competitors (additional competitors can be added for an additional fee) and an executive briefing (virtual)
Develop thought leadership content - blog, article or eBook
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Develop thought leadership content in the form of a blog post, an article or an eBook. Subjects include customer experience, subscriber experience, digital first, digital transformation, CRM, project based ERP, sales tech, subscription management, customer advocacy, etc. (See profile for areas of expertise).
Join Thinkers360 for free! Are you a Reader/Writer, Thought Leader/Influencer (looking to increase your earnings), or an Enterprise User (looking to work with experts)?
Measuring Success: KPIs for Specialized AI Agent Performance
The Three-Dimensional Framework for Agentic AI: A Strategic Guide to Autonomy, Authority, and Resilience
AI in Human Resources: Transforming Talent Acquisition, Employee Engagement, and Performance Management
AI-Powered Personalization in E-Commerce
The Future of Adaptive Enterprises with Agentic AI
Dynamic Pathways: Autonomous AI and the Evolution of Customer Journey Mapping
The Role of Planning and Reasoning in Next-Generation AI Agents
Measuring the ROI of AI Investments
Research Brief: ZohoDay Analyst Summit 2025
Research Brief: SugarCRM Analyst Summit 2025
The Impact of AI on Business Resilience
AI Driven Business Decisions
The Impact of AI on Employee Productivity
Autonomous AI Agents: Automating the Enterprise
Decision Intelligence Trends for 2025
Customer Experience Trends for 2025
A Use Case Driven Approach to Selecting the Ideal Language Model
Research Brief: AI Trends for 2025
The Small Business Guide to AI
The Board Member’s Guide to Enterprise AI
Research Brief: Salesforce Dreamforce 2024
Research Brief: Zoho Analytics 6.0 Sept 2024 Release
Research Brief: Oracle CloudWorld and SuiteWorld 2024
Research Brief: IBM AI Strategy
Research Brief: Adobe AI Strategy
Manufacturing's Digital Workforce: Beyond Automation to Intelligent Production
The Digital Workforce Revolution Is Here: What 442 Business Leaders Just Revealed About Agentic AI
Agentic AI Communication Protocols: The Infrastructure of Intelligent Coordination
Integration Challenges: Making Agents Work with Legacy Systems
The Agentic Advantage: How AI Agents Create Sustainable Competitive Moats
Selling Agentic AI Internally: Overcoming Executive and Employee Resistance
The Skills Revolution: Preparing Your Workforce for Human-Agent Collaboration
Salesforce Makes Major AI Data Play with $8 Billion Informatica Acquisition
Google I/O 2025: AI Takes Center Stage with Gemini 2.5 and New Search Features
Agentforce in Slack: Transforming Workplace Productivity with AI-Powered Digital Teammates
From Tool to Team Member: How Specialized AI Agents Are Changing Organizational Structure
The GTM Team and the Digital Workforce: Redefining Revenue Generation
Headless AI Agents: Decoupling Interfaces from Intelligence
Advanced Retrieval Approaches for Agentic Systems: How to Select the Best Fit for Your Agents
The Role of Semantics in Agentic AI: Enabling Context, Intent, and Understanding
AI Agent Collaboration Models: How Different Specialized Agents Can Work Together
The Process-Led Approach to Agentic AI
From Generalists to Specialists: The Evolution of Business AI Implementation Strategies
From Commands to Goals: How Agentic AI is Transforming Robot Decision-Making
Tool Use and Integration: How AI Agents Are Learning to Use External Systems
Smarter, Not Bigger: How RARE Makes Domain-Specific Reasoning Scalable
Agentic AI vs. LLMs: Understanding the Shift from Reactive to Proactive AI
Multi-Agent Systems: When Teams of AI Work Together
Managing the Digital Workforce
Leveraging AI to Predict and Drive Sales Success: How Generative Models are Helping Sales Teams Target the Right Leads
Arion Research LLC
Generative AI Industry Use Cases
Generative AI Use Cases
Large Action Models
Business Adoption and Use of Artificial Intelligence
Business Adoption and Use of AI
Curiosity Doesn't Kill the Cat with Michael Fauscette
The Digital Workforce Revolution
Disambiguation: May 2025 AI Pulse - Special
Dynamic Pathways: AI and the Evolution of Customer Journeys
Special Edition: Tableau Conference 2025
Disambiguation: April 2025 AI Pulse
Driving Business Value with Agentic AI
Redefining Sales with AI
March AI Pulse
Special Edition Salesforce TDX 2025 Part Two
Special Edition Salesforce TDX 2025 Part One
February 2025 AI Pulse
ZohoDay Analyst Summit 2025
Regaining Trust Through Connected Selling
Communication Channel Preferences for Mobile Consumers
Board Director / Advisory Board Member
B2B Reviews and Customer Advocacy Programs
Competitive Market Analysis
Develop thought leadership content - blog, article or eBook
