Hajra Naz
This week was big for AI and business partnerships. Many top companies announced new deals. AI is changing how businesses work faster than ever.
Zendesk launched new AI agents. The company says they can solve up to 80% of customer service issues without human help. Anthropic teamed up with IBM to boost enterprise AI tools. Deloitte also signed a deal with Anthropic to grow its AI capabilities. Google joined in too, launching a new AI platform for businesses. It’s designed to help companies use generative AI in daily work.
But not everything went smoothly. Deloitte’s big announcement came on the same day the Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations revealed that the firm would need to issue a refund. The reason? A report Deloitte delivered was found to include AI-generated “hallucinations,” false or made-up information produced by an AI model.
This situation highlights a growing problem: while AI tools promise efficiency and speed, many are still not reliable enough for critical business tasks. Governments and clients are now demanding more accountability when AI is used in reports, analysis, or consulting.
AI’s Real Money Is in Business
Anthony: This connects to what we said last week about GenAI social apps. Those might make money one day, but it will take time. The real money right now is in business and enterprise deals.
Maybe Sora will help OpenAI make money five years from now. But today, it’s partnerships like these that drive real revenue.
The Deloitte story stood out, though. It’s another reminder that AI models aren’t always ready for professional use. I actually think it’s good that the Australian government pushed back.
It’s not that no one should ever use AI to write reports. But if they do, they must check every fact and make sure it’s real. You can’t just paste AI content into a report and call it done. People who do that should be held responsible, even fined.
AI in Customer Service
Kirsten: Sean, Zendesk announced new tools that will automate almost all customer service. They could even remove the need for human agents. Are you seeing more of that automation in everyday life?
Sean: Yes, definitely. Many startups are working on full AI customer service systems. These include voice bots, chat agents, and LLMs that handle messages from car dealerships and service centers.
I think that’s a smart idea. The issue isn’t that AI will take jobs. It’s that it’s already hard to reach someone when you need help. You get bounced between departments and wait forever.
If AI can make that process faster and more accurate, it’s a big win. The question is whether businesses will actually use these tools long-term.
Many companies try new tech like web forms, but then stop updating them. Customers think the system works, but it doesn’t. Hopefully, AI changes that.
I’m optimistic. AI tools might soon become people’s first point of contact when they reach out to a business. And we’re about to see how that plays out.
FAQs
1. What are AI “enterprise deals”?
Enterprise deals are contracts between AI companies and large organizations to use AI tools for business needs, like customer support, data analysis, or automation.
2. Why did Deloitte face criticism in Australia?
Deloitte had to refund money after submitting a report with fake information generated by AI known as “AI hallucinations.”
3. What does Zendesk’s new AI agent do?
Zendesk’s new AI agents can resolve about 80% of customer service requests without needing a human.
4. Are AI tools replacing human workers?
Not entirely. They’re mainly used to help humans work faster and manage repetitive tasks. Humans are still needed for complex or emotional issues.
5. Why are companies focusing on enterprise AI instead of consumer apps?
Enterprise AI brings in more money faster. Consumer AI apps might grow later, but business contracts offer immediate profit.
