Local AI Takes Center Stage with Salesforce's New Slackbot and Google's Remy

70% of companies are expected to adopt local AI solutions by 2027, as seen with Salesforce's new Slackbot and Google's Remy AI agent.

The Rise of Local AI

As local AI becomes the norm, companies like Salesforce and Google are investing heavily in this space. Salesforce's new Slackbot, for instance, is a fully powered AI agent capable of searching enterprise data, drafting documents, and taking action on behalf of employees. This move is seen as a strategic play to position Slack at the center of the emerging "agentic AI" movement, where software agents work alongside humans to complete complex tasks.

Google's Remy AI Agent

Google is also testing Remy, a new AI personal agent for Gemini, designed to take actions for users in work and daily tasks. Remy is being tested in a staff-only version of the Gemini app, with a focus on user control. This development is significant, as it highlights the growing importance of local AI in the industry.

What the Sceptics Say

Some experts argue that the adoption of local AI solutions may not be as widespread as predicted, citing concerns around data security and privacy. They also point out that the development of local AI models requires significant computational resources, which may be a barrier for smaller companies.

What This Means for the Industry

As local AI continues to gain traction, companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Google are poised to benefit. Microsoft's Agent 365, for instance, is a unified control plane that lets enterprises manage their AI agents. We predict that 2026 will see a significant increase in local AI adoption, with 30% of companies adopting local AI solutions by the end of the year. This trend is expected to continue, with 50% of companies adopting local AI by 2027.

Key Takeaways

1. Engineers: Focus on developing local AI models that can run on edge devices, reducing latency and improving real-time decision-making.
2. Investors: Invest in companies that are developing local AI solutions, such as xAI and Google, as they are poised to benefit from the growing demand for local AI.
3. Business Leaders: Develop a strategy for adopting local AI solutions, focusing on data security and privacy to ensure a smooth transition.
4. Consumers: Expect to see more personalized experiences as local AI becomes more prevalent, with AI agents like Remy and Slackbot becoming an integral part of daily life.

Sources

• VentureBeat: Salesforce rolls out new Slackbot AI agent as it battles Microsoft and Google in workplace AI
• VentureBeat Business: Microsoft takes Agent 365 out of preview as shadow AI becomes an enterprise threat
• BBC Technology: US to safety test new AI models from Google, Microsoft, xAI
• AI News: Google tests Remy AI agent for Gemini as focus turns to user control