May 29, 2025

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Salesforce Acquires Informatica, Dell Partners with NVIDIA, AI in Biopharma, Okta Security

The tech industry is witnessing significant advancements in artificial intelligence, with major companies investing heavily in AI technologies. Salesforce has acquired Informatica, a cloud data management company, for $8 billion to strengthen its data infrastructure and support the development of agentic AI technologies. Meanwhile, Dell is partnering with NVIDIA to build AI servers powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, offering improved AI reasoning inference output and throughput. Sanofi is embedding AI in biopharma production to accelerate the development of new medicines, and Okta is focusing on providing security solutions to manage access to AI systems. Additionally, experts are warning about the potential downsides of AI productivity, including the death of downtime, risks to human skills, and the blurring of lines between productivity and purpose. As AI continues to transform industries, companies are working to address challenges such as overheating in AI hardware and ensuring the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.

Key Takeaways

  • Salesforce has acquired Informatica for $8 billion to strengthen its data infrastructure and support agentic AI technologies.
  • Dell is partnering with NVIDIA to build AI servers powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, offering improved AI reasoning inference output and throughput.
  • Sanofi is embedding AI in biopharma production to accelerate the development of new medicines.
  • Okta is focusing on providing security solutions to manage access to AI systems.
  • Experts warn about the potential downsides of AI productivity, including the death of downtime and risks to human skills.
  • Dell is working to address the issue of overheating in AI hardware.
  • AI is being applied in various ways in manufacturing, including digital twinning, cobots, and centralized control of machines.
  • Sam Altman and Jony Ive are collaborating on a new AI hardware project, expected to launch in late 2026.
  • AI agents can automate entire workflows, allowing marketers to focus on high-impact work.
  • The responsible development and deployment of AI technologies is crucial to ensuring their benefits are realized while minimizing their risks.

Salesforce Buys Informatica for $8 Billion

Salesforce has agreed to acquire Informatica, a cloud data management company, for $8 billion. The deal aims to strengthen Salesforce's data infrastructure and support the development of agentic AI technologies. Informatica's offerings, including data cataloguing and governance, will complement Salesforce's capabilities. The acquisition is expected to close early in Salesforce's fiscal year 2027, subject to regulatory approvals. Salesforce plans to integrate Informatica's technology across its platform and invest in its ecosystem of data and infrastructure partners.

Salesforce Acquires Informatica for $8 Billion

Salesforce has acquired Informatica, a data management company, in a deal valued at $8 billion. The acquisition aims to enhance Salesforce's AI capabilities and support the development of agentic AI technologies. Informatica's software helps businesses collect, manage, and organize large sets of data. The deal brings together tools for organizing and cleaning data with Salesforce's cloud platform. Salesforce plans to integrate Informatica's technology across its platform and apply its sales and marketing muscle to grow Informatica's cloud business.

Dell Builds AI Servers with NVIDIA Blackwell

Dell Technologies is partnering with NVIDIA to build AI servers powered by NVIDIA Blackwell. The servers offer up to 50x more AI reasoning inference output and 5x improvement in throughput compared to previous platforms. Dell's AI servers are designed to support the development and deployment of AI technologies. The company's ability to engineer and assemble compute, network, and storage under one roof is a key differentiator. Dell plans to ship thousands of NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs to customers in a week and has been chosen to deploy 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs in just six weeks.

Altman and Ive Develop New AI Hardware

Sam Altman and Jony Ive are collaborating on a new AI hardware project. The details of the project are still under wraps, but it is expected to have a significant impact on the tech industry. Altman and Ive are working together to create a new type of device that is neither a smartphone nor a smartwatch. The device is expected to be unobtrusive and capable of being fully aware of a user's surroundings and life. The launch date for the first AI hardware is set for late 2026, and Altman promises a family of AI devices.

Sanofi Embeds AI in Biopharma Production

Sanofi is embedding artificial intelligence into every facet of pharmaceutical production to accelerate the path from scientific discovery to patient delivery. The company is applying AI across the entire development lifecycle to shorten the time it takes to bring new medicines to market. Sanofi's Digital Accelerators are driving a dual transformation, making medicines faster and more efficiently while embedding a digital-first mindset throughout the company. The company aims to triple the number of new medicines it launches and is using AI to improve predictive accuracy and drive treatment adoption.

Building AI Agents to Streamline Workflows

AI agents can automate entire workflows, allowing marketers to focus on high-impact work. AI agents can learn new information, ask questions, and gather sources, in addition to communicating and collaborating with humans and other AI tools. Marketers expect generative AI to help eliminate busy work and allow them to focus more on strategic work. AI agents can help marketers create more campaigns and do more with their time. However, it is essential to remember that being busy is not the same as being fulfilled, and AI should be used to support meaningful work.

Okta CEO Discusses Security Risks of Agentic AI

Okta CEO Todd McKinnon discussed the cybersecurity challenges of agentic artificial intelligence models moving from prototypes to production. McKinnon emphasized the importance of identity management and verification in securing AI systems. He noted that giving AI agents access to real systems, real data, and customer data requires a great identity management foundation. Okta is focused on providing a security solution that can manage access not only to people and customers but also to AI agents. McKinnon also discussed the company's quarterly report and revenue guidance, striking a conservative tone due to macroeconomic uncertainty.

The Downsides of AI Productivity

While AI can optimize how we work, it is essential to consider the potential downsides of AI productivity. These include the death of downtime, risks to human skills, and the blurring of lines between productivity and purpose. AI can also lead to dependency, emotional detachment, and the expectation of constant availability. Furthermore, AI-driven efficiency can have ethical implications, such as job displacement and the creation of a digital panopticon. It is crucial to remember that being busy is not the same as being fulfilled and that AI should be used to support meaningful work.

Dell Addresses Overheating in AI Hardware

Dell is working to address the issue of overheating in AI hardware as demand for AI technologies rises. The company is developing new solutions to mitigate the problem of overheating, which can impact the performance and reliability of AI systems. Dell's efforts aim to support the growing need for AI hardware and ensure that its systems can operate efficiently and effectively.

4 AI Applications in Manufacturing

AI is being applied in various ways in manufacturing, including digital twinning, cobots, factory in a box, and centralized control of machines. Digital twinning involves creating a digital replica of a factory process to optimize production and reduce defects. Cobots are collaborative robots that work alongside humans to perform tasks such as assembly and inspection. Factory in a box refers to self-contained systems that can be set up at demand locations to produce different types of products. Centralized control of machines involves using dedicated systems to manage and optimize production processes.

Sources

AI Agentic AI Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Data Management Cloud Computing