Salesforce, the global leader in customer relationship management, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Tenyx, a developer of AI-powered voice agents. The acquisition is a strategic move by Salesforce to strengthen its AI capabilities and enhance its customer service offerings.

The move echoes similar deals struck by tech giants Microsoft and Amazon this year, highlighting the increasing competition for AI tools and talent.

Microsoft paid US$650 million in March to acquire talent from AI startup Inflection, while Amazon hired several co-founders and employees from Adept, another AI startup, in June.

Tenyx's innovative voice AI solutions will be integrated into Salesforce's existing autonomous agent capabilities, Agentforce Service Agent. This will enable Salesforce to deliver even more intuitive and seamless customer interactions through natural and engaging conversations.

The acquisition also brings with it a talented team of AI experts, including Tenyx co-founders Itamar Arel and Adam Earle. Their deep knowledge of voice AI will be instrumental in shaping the future of Salesforce's Agent offerings.

"We are thrilled to welcome Tenyx to the Salesforce family," said Marc Benioff, Chairman and CEO of Salesforce. "Tenyx's expertise in AI voice technology will significantly enhance our ability to deliver exceptional customer experiences."

The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of Salesforce's fiscal year 2025. This move further solidifies Salesforce's position as a leader in the AI-driven customer service market.