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At 28 Years Old, Jesse Zhang’s Decagon Is Taking on Giants in AI-Driven Customer Service

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  At 28, Jesse Zhang is building something many seasoned founders struggle to pull off. His startup, Decagon, is stepping straight into a space ruled by legacy customer service platforms and well-funded AI players. And it is doing so with clarity, speed, and a sharp focus on real customer conversations. Decagon is not about flashy demos or surface-level chatbots. It is about fixing a problem every company feels but rarely solves well: customer support that scales without breaking trust, speed, or quality. Based on Forbes reporting , Zhang’s rise is closely tied to one belief. Customer service should feel human even when it runs on AI. That belief is now shaping how modern teams think about customer experience automation. Who Is Jesse Zhang and Why Decagon Stands Out Jesse Zhang started Decagon after seeing how support teams struggle with growing ticket volumes, long response times, and rising costs. Many tools promised automation, yet customers still ended up frustrated and agents ...
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The 2026 Academic Transformation: Bridging the Degree Gap with AI CERTs®

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 In 2026, the global educational landscape has shifted from a "degree-centric" model to a "skills-verified" economy. For universities, colleges, and polytechnics, the challenge is no longer just providing a foundational education; it is ensuring that graduates possess the specific, high-stakes competencies required by an AI-integrated workforce. While a traditional four-year degree remains a symbol of deep learning and critical thinking, it is increasingly being augmented—and validated—by role-based certifications. The AI CERTs® Authorized Academic Partner (AAP) Program has emerged as the premier framework for institutions to bridge this "credibility gap," allowing them to embed professional-grade AI credentials directly into their academic pathways. The Problem: Content Decay and the "Lagging" Curriculum One of the greatest tensions in higher education is the speed of innovation versus the speed of accreditation. Traditionally, designing a new ...
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Empowering the Next Generation: The Case for Becoming an AI CERTs® Authorized Academic Partner

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 For centuries, academia has been the guardian of foundational knowledge. However, the speed of AI innovation has created a "Content Decay" problem that traditional academic cycles struggle to keep up with. By the time a new curriculum is approved, the technology has often moved on. By becoming an Authorized Academic Partner (AAP) , your institution can bypass these hurdles, integrating industry-standard AI certifications directly into your existing degree programs. Why Academic Institutions are Joining the AI CERTs® Ecosystem 1. Future-Proofing Graduate Employability Employers today are looking for more than just a diploma; they are looking for verified, role-based skills. The AAP program allows students to graduate with their degree plus a globally recognized AI certification . This dual credentialing significantly increases a student’s market value, making them stand out in competitive hiring environments. 2. Specialized Faculty Enablement An academic institution is only...
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How Partnerships Increase Student Lifetime Value in AI Training Programs

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  As organizations invest heavily in  AI training programs , many focus on short-term enrollment and initial delivery metrics. Yet the most successful AI training businesses optimize for something far more strategic: student lifetime value (LTV). In enterprise-focused AI education, lifetime value is not driven by one-off programs—it is built through continuity, trust, and repeatable engagement over time.  Independent training providers often struggle to extend value beyond a single cohort or engagement. Without a structured framework, programs plateau quickly, limiting expansion opportunities and long-term revenue. This is where partnerships—specifically operating as an  authorized training partner —become a powerful lever for increasing lifetime value at scale.  Why Student Lifetime Value Is Hard to Sustain Independently   Lifetime value in AI training is not a marketing problem. It is an operational one.  Fragmented Prog...
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AI Training Programs as a Revenue-Generating Capability

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  Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future concept—it is a business imperative. Organizations across industries are racing to adopt AI, yet a massive skills gap continues to slow transformation. This gap has created a powerful opportunity for institutions, training providers, consultants, and enterprises to turn  AI training programs  into a scalable, sustainable revenue stream.  Today, AI education is not just about upskilling learners. It is about building a business model around professional certifications, industry-aligned curricula, and global demand. This is where AI CERTs plays a critical role in helping organizations  become a partner   and monetize AI education effectively.  Why AI Training Programs Are in High Demand   The demand for AI skills has grown exponentially. Businesses need certified professionals who can deploy, manage, and govern AI systems responsibly.  Key drivers of demand include:  Rapid AI a...
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