Dreamforce 2024 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting events in Salesforce's history, with a central focus on Agentforce, its latest AI-powered platform. If you thought Salesforce had already made significant moves in the AI space, this year’s announcements prove they are just getting started. Alongside the unveiling of new tools, Salesforce has committed to upskilling its ecosystem by offering free premium AI training and certifications through 2025.
In this blog, we'll dive into Salesforce’s AI initiatives, including Agentforce, the company’s investment into AI education, and how you can get certified in AI by Salesforce for free.
What is Agentforce?
At the heart of Salesforce’s announcements is Agentforce, the new AI-powered platform that will integrate deeply into Salesforce’s ecosystem. Agentforce is designed to optimize customer service, sales, and overall business operations by leveraging AI agents that handle tasks, improve workflows, and deliver more personalized customer experiences.
With Agentforce, businesses can:
Automate customer interactions using AI-powered agents.
Drive smarter sales strategies by letting AI handle administrative tasks.
Enhance service experiences by providing real-time, AI-driven insights.
Agentforce is built to complement other AI products in Salesforce’s lineup, including Copilot Studio and Data Cloud, pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve within a CRM.
The $50 Million Investment in AI Upskilling
To ensure professionals are ready to embrace the wave of AI-powered tools, Salesforce has committed to investing $50 million in AI training programs through 2025. This initiative is aimed at closing the AI skills gap, making AI knowledge accessible to all by offering free premium courses, certifications, and instructor-led training.
Global AI Centers
Salesforce is also launching AI Centers in major cities around the world, starting with London and expanding to Chicago, Tokyo, Sydney, and even a pop-up center in San Francisco. These centers will host in-person, instructor-led courses and workshops, bringing together industry experts, partners, and customers to foster hands-on learning.
This global initiative ensures that both Salesforce professionals and newcomers have access to the skills they need to thrive in an AI-driven business landscape.
Free Premium AI Courses and Certifications
Perhaps the most exciting news from Dreamforce 2024 is Salesforce’s decision to offer free premium AI training and certifications. Here’s what you need to know:
Free AI Certifications
By the end of 2025, Salesforce will make both the AI Associate and AI Specialist certifications available for free, which are currently priced at $75 and $200, respectively. These certifications are designed to validate your knowledge of Salesforce’s AI tools, including Agentforce, and to position you as an expert in AI solutions.
AI Associate Certification: A foundational certification that covers basic AI concepts, with a focus on Salesforce’s AI products.
AI Specialist Certification: A more advanced certification designed for professionals who want to dive deeper into AI implementation, including using Agentforce.
Instructor-Led Training
Salesforce is also introducing 3-day instructor-led courses, which will be offered in person at their AI Centers. These courses will cover hands-on training in using out-of-the-box AI products like Agentforce, providing a deep dive into AI-powered solutions for sales and service organizations.
The free instructor-led courses will start in late 2024 and will run quarterly at the AI Centers in San Francisco and London, with plans to expand globally.
AI Workshops and Courses
In addition to certifications, Salesforce will be offering virtual hands-on workshops for free until December 2025. These workshops are designed to give learners practical experience with Salesforce AI products and include:
How to Build Your First Agent: A workshop that teaches how to create your first AI agent using Agentforce.
Run Your Sales Organization Using Agentforce Sales Agents: A focus on optimizing sales processes with AI-powered agents.
Run Your Service Organization Using Agentforce Service Agents: How to automate customer service tasks using Agentforce.
Get Started with Copilot: Hands-on learning to utilize Salesforce’s Copilot AI for business automation.
Get Started with Prompt Builder: Learn how to craft effective AI prompts for better outputs in AI-driven applications.
These workshops will run virtually, giving professionals around the world the opportunity to gain hands-on AI experience without having to travel.
Why is Salesforce Doing This?
Salesforce’s push into AI training is part of a broader effort to skill up the global workforce. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into business processes, the demand for professionals who can understand and apply AI effectively is skyrocketing. Salesforce aims to fill this gap by making it easier than ever to access AI training and certification resources.
Beyond simply addressing a skills gap, this initiative also helps Salesforce position itself as the leading platform for AI-driven business solutions. By upskilling its ecosystem, Salesforce ensures that its users are ready to implement new AI tools, including Agentforce, in real-world scenarios.
The Role of AI Centers
The launch of AI Centers globally will serve as hubs for innovation and learning. These centers will bring together thought leaders, developers, and businesses to explore how AI can transform industries. The physical presence of these centers underscores Salesforce’s commitment to fostering an AI-ready workforce through hands-on training and collaboration.
How to Get Certified
Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting your free Salesforce AI certification:
Start Learning on Trailhead: Salesforce’s learning platform, Trailhead, offers free, self-paced modules designed to build your knowledge of AI concepts and Salesforce tools.
Attend Virtual Workshops: Starting in November 2024, sign up for the virtual hands-on AI workshops, such as “How to Build Your First Agent” or “Run Your Sales Organization Using Agentforce Sales Agents,” to get real-world practice.
Enroll in Instructor-Led Courses: If you want a more immersive learning experience, consider attending one of the in-person AI courses at Salesforce’s AI Centers. These 3-day workshops are free, but you’ll need to cover your own travel expenses.
Take the Certification Exam: Once you’ve completed your training, schedule your AI Associate or AI Specialist certification exam. Exams are free until the end of 2025, so take advantage of the opportunity!
Stay Engaged: Salesforce will continue to release new AI tools and enhancements, so keep your skills up to date by participating in workshops and exploring new features as they’re announced.
Conclusion
Salesforce is going all-in on AI with its new Agentforce platform and significant investments in training and certification programs. By offering free premium AI courses and certifications, Salesforce is ensuring that its ecosystem is prepared for the future of AI-driven business solutions. Whether you’re looking to enhance your skills or get ahead in your career, the time to dive into AI is now.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of Salesforce’s AI revolution—start learning, get certified, and be ready to lead the next wave of AI-powered innovation!
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