A trio of former engineering leaders from Google, Meta, and Samsung have launched Palona AI, a groundbreaking startup focused on creating emotionally intelligent AI-powered customer sales agents. Backed by $10 million in funding, the company aims to redefine how brands interact with their customers using advanced AI tools.
Targeting Customer Engagement
Palona AI’s platform provides businesses with AI agents capable of upselling, offering personalized recommendations, and managing customer interactions efficiently. Early adopters include Wyze Labs, a home security camera maker, and wellness studio Mindzero.
The AI agents are trained with brand-specific materials like training manuals, FAQs, and marketing content. This ensures customer interactions are polite, emotionally intelligent, and aligned with the brand’s identity.
Solving Chatbot Challenges
Traditional AI tools often struggle with off-topic responses or failure to maintain a brand’s identity. Palona AI claims its technology addresses these issues by adding a supervisory layer to OpenAI’s advanced language models. This ensures focused and brand-appropriate conversations.
Chief Technology Officer Tim Howes explained that Palona’s AI agents are designed to engage effectively with customers. They can interpret nuanced inputs, such as “hmmm,” as hesitation and respond with relevant support. “This level of interaction adds a human-like touch,” said Howes.
Leadership and Vision
The startup is led by industry veterans:
- Maria Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO, previously VP of Engineering at Google, GM of Meta’s AI for Products, and CTO at Tinder.
- Tim Howes, CTO, formerly led AI infrastructure teams at Meta and held CTO roles at Netscape and HP Software.
- Steve Liu, Chief Scientist, a former Samsung AI Center leader and tenured professor at McGill University.
Zhang explained that Palona AI helps brands build direct customer relationships. This approach counters the growing influence of aggregator platforms like Amazon and DoorDash. “Our mission is to empower brands with AI tools that feel personal and build trust,” she said.
A New Era in AI-Powered Sales
Palona AI is poised to set a new standard in the customer service and sales landscape. Its emotionally intelligent agents offer brands an innovative way to foster direct connections with customers, delivering enhanced engagement, better recommendations, and stronger brand loyalty.
As Zhang puts it, “If we can engage users in a conversation they actually like, then we can deliver immense value—not just for the brands, but for their customers too.”
Palona AI represents a significant leap in AI innovation, marking the next phase of customer interaction technology.
This news was first reported by Bloomberg.
