Salesforce announced on Thursday, June 6, that it will establish its first and flagship artificial intelligence center in the United Kingdom, situated in London’s Blue Fin building.
This initiative is part of a broader $4 billion investment Salesforce is committing to over the next five years to enhance its footprint in the U.K. and promote the region as a global technology hub.
The AI center, encompassing over 40,000 square feet and capable of hosting more than 300 individuals, is set to officially open on June 18. This center is designed to support industry collaboration among tech firms, AI experts, Salesforce partners, and customers. Additionally, it aims to facilitate AI training and upskilling programs.
During the Salesforce World Tour event held at the London Excel venue, the company revealed that the new center would not only serve the local market but also form a model for potential future centers worldwide.
The event attracted over 17,500 delegates from companies such as Aston Martin, McLaren, Just Eat Takeaway, and John Lewis. Zahra Bahrololoumi, the CEO of Salesforce U.K. and Ireland, emphasized the company’s commitment to leveraging AI technology responsibly and collaboratively to benefit their customers and partners.
Further bolstering its investment in the U.K., Salesforce Ventures, the venture capital arm of Salesforce, has invested over $200 million in British startups, including AutoGen AI, a procurement bid writing platform, and Eleven Labs, a company specializing in AI-powered text-to-speech and voice generation technology.
The announcement of the AI center and investments comes amidst financial scrutiny of Salesforce following its latest earnings report. The company reported a revenue of $9.13 billion for the last quarter, a growth of 11% year-over-year but slightly below the analyst expectations of $9.17 billion. Additionally, Salesforce provided future earnings guidance of $2.34 to $2.36 per share for the current quarter, which is below the anticipated $2.40 per share by analysts.
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