AI morning brief - 2025-06-12

Episode Summary:This episode of Vertica Newshound dives into how artificial intelligence is blurring the lines between leadership and customers at Klarna, where an AI-powered hotline lets anyone talk to a digital version of the CEO. We also explore key moves in digital marketing and e-commerce, from DoorDash’s acquisition of an ad tech firm to Salesforce’s new AI-powered marketing suite, and how AI is reshaping retail, logistics, search, and more.Main Story:Klarna’s CEO Is Now Taking Your Calls — Over an AI Hotline Klarna has launched a 24/7 hotline where anyone can speak with an AI trained on CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski’s voice and insights. More than a novelty, the AI Sebastian encourages real feedback, transcribes and summarizes calls, and feeds suggestions directly to Klarna’s product teams through a live dashboard. The initiative promises faster product developments and deeper user engagement by making executive-level communication accessible to all. Hotline numbers are live in the United States and Sweden for anyone to try. Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/685814/klarna-ceo-calls-ai-hotlineOther Key Stories:DoorDash Acquires Symbiosys, Supercharging a $1B Ad Engine DoorDash is doubling down on AI-driven advertising by acquiring Symbiosys for $175 million. The deal is aimed at bolstering DoorDash’s $1 billion ad business, adding new capabilities in personalized marketing and automation. For e-commerce platforms and advertisers, this highlights the growing importance of AI for optimizing ad spend and campaign targeting. Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-11/doordash-to-buy-symbiosys-to-boost-its-1-billion-a-year-ad-unitThe Death of the “Season”: AI Makes Retail Personal, All Year Long Retailers are moving away from traditional seasonal sales periods, using AI to create personalized, continuous customer engagement. With real-time behavior analysis and targeted offers, brands now connect with shoppers year-round, driving more frequent engagement and increasing customer loyalty through advanced recommendation and timing algorithms. Source: https://martech.org/your-ecommerce-calendar-just-got-a-year-round-makeover/Salesforce Debuts Agentic Marketing Cloud Next: Campaigns on Autopilot Salesforce has launched Agentic Marketing Cloud Next, a new AI-powered suite that automates campaign creation, segmentation, and targeting. This all-in-one cloud platform enables companies to develop and launch digital campaigns in hours instead of days, pushing the standards for efficiency and scale in digital marketing. Source: https://martech.org/salesforce-unveils-agentic-marketing-cloud-next/Other Points of Interest:- Yahoo is updating its mail service with new AI features to better engage younger users and create more personalized inbox experiences.- Retail therapy is being redefined as AI-powered recommendations make shopping more dynamic and individualized.- AI is transforming search engine optimization, prompting companies to rethink their strategies for driving digital growth.- Amazon is leveraging AI in logistics, robotics, and inventory management, signaling faster and smarter delivery operations.- TransUnion data highlights that AI-optimized audience targeting significantly boosts marketing returns.- Alibaba’s rapid response to DeepSeek’s innovative, low-cost AI model illustrates the intense competition in AI development.- Meta’s AI now includes robust video editing, offering users creative tools powered by generative technology.- Snapchat introduced Lens Plus, a subscription for exclusive augmented reality and AI filters, reflecting new trends in digital engagement.If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to check out the source links for more detail and keep following Vertica Newshound for the latest in AI-powered business, tech, and innovation.