AI startup Sierra, co-founded by Bret Taylor, former CEO of Salesforce, has raised $175 million in a funding round valuing the company at $4.5 billion. The San Francisco-based company uses conversational AI to help businesses personalize customer service interactions. Taylor emphasizes the importance of empathy and conversation in AI agents, contrasting them with traditional chatbots. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/28/bret-taylors-ai-startup-sierra-valued-at-4point5-billion-in-funding.html