{"id":1555,"date":"2019-11-19T15:53:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T15:53:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=1555"},"modified":"2023-10-18T17:35:36","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T17:35:36","slug":"dreamforce-day-one-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ca\/blog\/dreamforce-day-one-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"What We Learned on Day 1 of Dreamforce \u201819"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hello Trailblazers! For those in town, welcome to San Francisco, and to those online, we\u2019re glad you can join us. Did you have a good first day at Dreamforce? We kicked off our event today with tons of great content, hands-on activities in the Campground, live music in the Dreamforest, fascinating conversations off and on stage, and lots of learning about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In particular, there was a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and technology in the day\u2019s programming. Here\u2019s what we found out today:<\/p>\n

1. Trailblazers are more impactful together<\/b><\/h2>\n

We kicked off the day by celebrating Trailblazers<\/a> creating change for their customers, companies, and communities. These are the leaders and change-makers using Salesforce Customer 360<\/a> to transform their company. \u201cThat is why we\u2019re here as Trailblazers: to improve the state of the world with trust, customer success, innovation, and equality,\u201d said Chairman and Co-CEO Marc Benioff. As Marc, Co-CEO Keith Block, and fellow Salesforce executives took the stage throughout the morning, the online audience and attendees got a preview of how we can build a connected and smarter Customer 360 together and how we can enable a single source of truth.<\/p>\n

Read our opening keynote highlights<\/a> post for more details.<\/p>\n

2. Diversity and soft skills are important in the future workplace<\/b><\/h2>\n

As more organizations move towards digital transformation, they\u2019re realizing the key role that AI plays in this process. It\u2019s the driving force behind changing business models, consumer expectations, and our workforce. Chief Technology Community Officer at the Kapor Center Lili Gangas and Co-Founder and CEO of pymetrics Dr. Frida Polli discussed the potential and pitfalls of AI, the reskilling problem our workforce faces, and the need for more diversity to recognize and prevent bias in AI<\/a>. Diving into the conversation, Dr. Polli jokingly remarked, \u201cAI is like teenage sex: everyone says they\u2019re doing it, but no one actually knows what it is.\u201d She went on to initiate a discussion on the mind of workers everywhere: AI and jobs. Dr. Polli believes that with growing AI, we need to look more at people for their soft skills and their potential. \u201cOnce we find the right balance between historical jobs and new industries \u2014 and train people \u2014 that\u2019s the way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

The discussion also touched on the importance and need for more diversity in the AI field. \u201cWhen we have a homogenous group creating technology, if you\u2019re not thinking of the unintended consequences, you\u2019re doing it wrong,\u201d Dr. Polli said addressing the tech industry\u2019s lack of representation. \u201cWe\u2019re leaving a lot of undeveloped talent on the table and that\u2019s not good for anybody.\u201d Gangas agreed and brought up the need for underrepresented communities to ask tougher questions of their industries. \u201cTo create new systems, we need new founders,\u201d she said. \u201cIf someone isn\u2019t asking tough questions, you\u2019re building blindly. I think we can do better and we should.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. The potential of 5G is like magic<\/b><\/h2>\n

The excitement surrounding the possibilities and potential of 5G technologies<\/a> grows every day, but there are equally plenty of questions about how 5G can be rolled out responsibly. Dreamforce welcomed Director General of the GSMA Mats Granryd, Chairman and CEO of KT Corporation Hwang Chang-Gyu, Tech Ambassador of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Casper Klynge, and moderator Fortune\u2019s Sr. Editor Ellen McGirt to discuss the cascading impact of 5G and how businesses can prepare.<\/p>\n

Though 5G may seem like magic, Ellen asks if it is \u201cgood magic.\u201d To answer this question, the panel discussed the realistic roll-out of 5G networks, the positive impact of 5G connectivity in remote villages, and the power of lower latency and higher \u201cspeed lanes.\u201d As the panel wound down, Klynge, the diplomat, asked the audience to consider new ways of cooperating and new alliances we will need to ensure inclusion of data-security, inclusivity, equality, and sustainability in embracing this new technology on the horizon.<\/p>\n

4. Preventing bias in AI is still a challenge for many<\/b><\/h2>\n

The conversations around ethics and responsibility in the use of data, technology, and AI solutions continues to grow. However, there\u2019s still uncertainty in what actionable steps businesses can take to manage bias in AI<\/a> and ensure organizations are paving the way for digital transformation in an ethical way.<\/p>\n

In a fascinating panel, World Economic Forum\u2019s Head of AI and Machine Learning Kay Firth-Butterfield, Co-Founder & Executive Chair of Socos Labs Vivienne Ming, and Salesforce\u2019s Architect of Ethical AI Practice Kathy Baxter discussed the state of ethics in AI and shared their insights on what steps all companies can take.<\/p>\n

For starters, It\u2019s all about practice. Ethics and AI starts with asking the right questions like, \u201cWhat needs to be solved\u201d or \u201cIs this something people want or is it something they need?\u201d \u201cEthics is a lived experience and making hard decisions when your interests and society\u2019s needs diverge,\u201d Ming advised. Firth-Butterfield agreed with this assessment. \u201cWe need to be thinking about the entire process as we design, build, and sell.” This is important because ethics isn\u2019t something that can be learned in a classroom \u2013 it\u2019s something that needs to be put into practice. <\/p>\n

Similarly, another important benchmark for creating ethical AI is asking yourself if what you build makes people better \u2014 is humanity better for it. \u201cAlways ask yourself: does this make me a better person, even when I turn it off?\u201d Ming says. Firth-Butterfield explained that we should not think of AI as surpassing our abilities, but about AI helping us overcome what we\u2019re not so good at. \u201cWe really need to think about if we really need AI everywhere, and making sure that AI is lifting us up as humans, rather than oppressing us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whew, that\u2019s a wrap for day one! Get a good night\u2019s sleep and stay hydrated because we\u2019re going to crank up the energy again tomorrow for another day of learning and inspiration.<\/p>\n