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Agentic Era Gives Birth to a New Branding Paradigm

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In the agentic era, service-intensive brands will need to consider the brand impact of the generative AI-based agents’ personality on their customers in every interactionAmdocs global study reveals consumer preferences when interacting with AI agents and the key considerations brands must address during their journey into the agentic era

PUNE, India, Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Amdocs (NASDAQ: DOX), a leading provider of software and services to communications and media companies, today released a global study*, ‘Rethinking Brand and Customer Experience in the Agentic Era,’ commissioned by Amdocs in collaboration with McCann Tech agency and Coleman Parkes, which explores the impact on brand identity as consumers interact with generative AI-based agents (AI agents) for customer care and sales. 

For decades, brands have fostered loyalty and trust through memorable experiences crafted by human agents and digital interactions. Now, in the agentic era in which AI agents autonomously perform tasks, make decisions, and interact with customers on behalf of businesses and individuals, the branding paradigm is changing, which is particularly significant for service-intensive brands, such as communications service providers (CSPs), financial services providers, and many others.

As AI technology advances, AI agents are gradually becoming brand representatives—speaking the brand’s language, aligning with its values, and engaging customers meaningfully. In this new landscape, AI is no longer just a tool; it is an essential extension of the brand. Brands must design AI agents that actively shape customer perceptions and uphold brand integrity.

“The agentic era is a completely new era,” said Gil Rosen, Chief Marketing Officer, Amdocs. “Each brand interaction with a customer via AI agents should be seen through the paradigm of brand, context, and customer: What is the brand persona, what is the context of the customer interaction, and who is the customer? In the agentic era, these possibilities are infinite. Is it always the same AI agent persona or does each customer meet another persona depending on the context of the interaction? It’s a question every brand must address because as AI agents evolve, this will fundamentally redefine how businesses interact with their customers and workforce across all channels.”

The global study examined consumer and CSPs expectations for the agentic era, and reveals that consumers are largely open to interacting in the near future with CSPs’ AI agents and have a positive perception of them.

In fact, 51% of consumers perceive CSPs using AI agents as ‘futuristic and innovative’. Additionally, 30% of consumers believe that the use of AI agents demonstrates a CSP’s commitment to improving customer service. However, 48% of consumers also express concerns that AI agents could be used primarily for cost-saving purposes.

Additional findings from the research:

As technology matures, personal AI agents that provide a unique experience are increasingly preferred over human interactions: 45% of consumers said they would prefer interacting with personal AI agents, versus 35% who would rather keep their interactions solely with human agents. In fact, 61% of consumers stated they would be willing to switch to a CSP that offers superior personal AI agents.Unique AI agents with varying personalities are expected: Almost half (49%) of consumers expressed interest in customizing their AI agent’s characteristicsCSPs overestimate consumer hesitancy toward AI agents: While less than half (45%) of consumers expressed concern about the use of AI for customer care and sales, CSPs estimated this concern to be nearly 60%. Furthermore, only 34% of consumers expect to feel uncomfortable interacting with AI agents, compared to CSPs’ estimation of 58%Consumers have high expectations of AI agents, which exceed those of CSPs in every surveyed aspect: 80% of consumers expect a high level of empathy from AI agents, compared to just 43% of CSPs. This gap is also significant for agent professionalism (85% vs. 44%), quick issue resolution (87% vs. 51%), and achieving first-time resolution (74% vs. 27%)

The Amdocs amAIz platform, which includes amAIz agents, leverages telco-specific expertise to improve customer care, overall customer experience and beyond, assisting CSPs in seamlessly implementing AI agents into their existing operations. In a mature proof of concept of the amAIz platform, a leading North American service provider achieved a 63% reduction in average handling time, a 50% improvement in first-time problem resolution, and a 49% increase in Transactional Net Promoter Score.

*Survey, interviews and focus groups of 120 CSP leaders and 7,025 consumers aged 18-69 in 14 countries across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Supporting Resources

Read more about the researchLearn more about Amdocs amAIz, and amAIz AgentsKeep up with Amdocs news by visiting the company’s websiteFollow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube

About Amdocs

Amdocs helps those who build the future to make it amazing. With our market-leading portfolio of software products and services, we unlock our customers’ innovative potential, empowering them to provide next-generation communication and media experiences for both the individual end user and large enterprise customers. Our employees around the globe are here to accelerate service providers’ migration to the cloud, enable them to differentiate in the 5G era, and digitalize and automate their operations. Listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, Amdocs had revenue of $5.00 billion in fiscal 2024.

Amdocs’ Forward-Looking Statement

This press release includes information that constitutes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about Amdocs’ growth and business results in future quarters and years. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be obtained or that any deviations will not be material. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to, the effects of general macroeconomic conditions, prevailing level of macroeconomic, business and operational uncertainty, including as a result of geopolitical events or other regional events, as well as the current inflationary environment, and the effects of these conditions on the Company’s customers’ businesses and levels of business activity, including the effect of the current economic uncertainty and industry pressure on the spending decisions of the Company’s customers. Amdocs’ ability to grow in the business markets that it serves, Amdocs’ ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, adverse effects of market competition, rapid technological shifts that may render the Company’s products and services obsolete, potential loss of a major customer, our ability to develop long-term relationships with our customers, our ability to successfully and effectively implement artificial intelligence and Generative AI in the Company’s offerings and operations, and risks associated with operating businesses in the international market. Amdocs may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future; however, Amdocs specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These and other risks are discussed at greater length in Amdocs’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 filed on December 13, 2023 and our Form 6-K furnished for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 on February 20, 2024, the second quarter of fiscal 2024 filed on May 20, 2024 and for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 on August 19, 2024.

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SMASHIFY LAUNCHES BETA PLATFORM TO REWRITE THE STREAMING EXPERIENCE FOR ARTIST AND FANS

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The Way the World Streams Music Is About to Change

LOS ANGELES, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Smashify announced today the launch of its beta music platform, introducing a new approach to streaming designed to create stronger alignment between artists, fans, and platform activity.

Built as a music technology platform, Smashify is focused on developing a more transparent and participatory streaming ecosystem. At the center of the platform is a model designed to better support artists while also recognizing the importance of listeners and fans in driving discovery, engagement, and long-term music value.

According to the company’s model, artists on Smashify are positioned to earn on average up to ten times more than they typically would through conventional streaming platforms. Smashify says this reflects its broader effort to create a more favorable economic structure for music creators in an industry where many artists have long expressed concern over limited payout models.

Smashify also places special emphasis on fans and listeners, which the company considers the most important part of its platform ecosystem. Through its participation model, Smashify is building a system intended to share a portion of company-generated revenue with listeners, recognizing the role fans play in supporting music discovery, engagement, and platform growth.

Rather than limiting value creation to the platform level alone, Smashify is building an ecosystem intended to broaden participation across artists, fans, and digital communities. The company says its beta launch marks the next step in rethinking how music is experienced, supported, and monetized in the digital era.

The platform incorporates blockchain infrastructure as part of its long-term technology framework, with an emphasis on transparency, accountability, and future utility across the Smashify ecosystem. As the company expands, Smashify plans to introduce additional features designed to support platform activity, artist promotion, fan engagement, marketplace functionality, and advertiser participation.

“The next wave of innovation in music will come not only from discovery, but from building stronger economic alignment across the ecosystem,” said 7 Ghosts, the team behind Smashify. “We believe artists deserve better economics, and we also believe fans deserve to be recognized as an essential part of the value chain. Smashify is being built to support both.”

Currently in beta, Smashify is focused on platform rollout, user growth, product development, and strategic expansion. The company says its mission is to build a next-generation music platform that reflects the changing expectations of both artists and audiences in a digitally native economy.

ABOUT SMASHIFY
Smashify is a music technology company developing a streaming ecosystem designed to deepen participation between artists, fans, and digital communities. With a focus on transparency, engagement, and long-term platform innovation, Smashify is building tools and infrastructure intended to support music discovery, artist visibility, user participation, and new forms of value creation within the streaming experience. Headquartered in Panama City, Panama, Smashify is focused on global platform growth and continued product development.

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TCL Launches its First UltraThin Designer Series Soundbar

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Big Cinematic Sound in a Small Elegant Form

IRVINE, Calif., April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TCL®, one of the world’s best‑selling consumer electronics brands, is redefining how great sound looks at home with the launch of its first UltraThin Designer Series Soundbar, the TCL A65K. A perfect match for TCL slimmest TVs, the A65K delivers room‑filling 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos® sound in a low-profile design that blends seamlessly into any space.

At just 50mm (less than 2-inches) thin, the TCL A65K was designed alongside TCL UltraThin TVs, to deliver a punch from a sleek, minimalist aesthetic. It sits flush beneath the screen, creating a clean, modern look that enhances your décor instead of competing with it. No visual clutter, just a perfectly matched pairing of picture and sound.

“To address the growing demand for sound systems that combine harmonized aesthetics with immersive sound, TCL created the new Designer Series A65K Soundbar,” said Scott Ramirez, Vice President of Product Marketing and Development, TCL North America. “TVs are meant to be seen, while soundbars are meant to be heard. So, the A65K is designed to put you in the movie with room-filling sound, yet you’ll forget it’s even there.”

Don’t let the UltraThin design fool you. Inside the A65K is a powerful 3.1.2‑channel Dolby Atmos system with nine speakers, including up‑firing drivers that push sound above and around you for a truly immersive experience. From explosive action scenes to quiet dialogue, the A65K fills the room with rich, detailed audio while keeping your living space open and stylish. Acoustically tuned with Audio by Bang & Olufsen, the A65K delivers premium sound quality, clarity, and balance typically found in much larger systems. With its wireless subwoofer and auto room calibration, you get cinematic sound without sacrificing simplicity.

With the A65K, TCL brings together bold audio performance and minimized décor-oriented design – creating a soundbar that looks as good as it sounds.

TCL A65K Designer Series Dolby Atmos Soundbar – “The Art of Sound”

NEW 3.1.2 Channel System with 9 speakers and 240W peak powerNEW UltraThin Depth DesignBuilt-in Center Channel SpeakerUp-Firing Atmos DriversWireless SubwooferChorusSoundDolby Atmos & DTS:XAi Sonic Auto Room CalibrationDialog EnhancerHDMI 2.0TCL TV ReadyCustom three-way acoustic architecture with racetrack drivers and honeycomb diaphragm technologyAudio by Bang & Olufsen

The TCL A65K Designer Series Soundbar is available now for $699.99 MSRP on Amazon and at Best Buy.

About TCL
TCL Electronics specializes in the research, development and manufacturing of consumer electronics including TVs, mobile phones, audio devices, smart home products and appliances. Combining thoughtful design and innovative technology to inspire greatness, our lineup delivers must-have features and meaningful experiences. As one of the world’s largest consumer electronics brands, our vertically integrated supply chain, and state-of-the-art display panel factory help TCL deliver innovation for all.

For additional product information, please visit www.tcl.com for the full portfolio.

TCL is a registered trademark of TCL Corporation. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

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Johnny Lieberman of Harbor IT named Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 New York finalist by EY US

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NEW YORK, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Johnny Lieberman, founder and CEO of Harbor IT, has been named a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 New York Award by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US). Now in its 41st year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program celebrates the bold leaders who disrupt markets through the world’s most ground-breaking companies, revolutionizing industries and uplifting communities. The program honors entrepreneurs whose innovations drive economic growth and help shape the future of business.

An independent panel of judges selected Johnny among 33 finalists based on their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company growth and lasting impact in building long-term value.

“We set out to build Harbor differently than everyone else building at our scale – one fully integrated company, with real specialization and technical depth that most MSPs weren’t willing to build. Cyber-first, focused on the customers that are hardest to serve: multi-site healthcare providers who can’t afford a clinical system going down; manufacturers dealing with OT and CMMC; PE-backed companies going through rapid change. These customers need specialists who’ve actually done the hard work and understand these complex environments. Most MSPs have shied away. We’ve leaned in. And none of it is possible without the almost 400 people who show up every day – the engineers, the founders who joined us and never left, and every person who chose Harbor and helped us build something none of us could have built alone. Our mission hasn’t changed: go where it’s hardest. If we can solve those problems, we can solve anything,” said Johnny Lieberman, founder and CEO of Harbor IT.

Harbor IT is a cyber-first managed services provider delivering integrated IT, cybersecurity, AI, and cloud solutions for organizations with complex, critical, and compliance-driven technology environments. Founded and led by CEO Johnny Lieberman, Harbor was built through a differentiated approach: raising $50 million from a curated network of entrepreneurs and business owners to create an operator-led alternative to traditional private equity rollups. Through nine strategic acquisitions, Harbor has been fully integrated into a single operating platform with a unified product line, including its own US-based SOC and proprietary MXDR platform. Harbor serves midmarket customers predominantly through three specialized vertical practices: private equity portfolio companies, critical infrastructure, and healthcare, each defined by complex operational, regulatory, or security requirements. With nearly 400 employees across 40 states, Harbor supports customers nationwide as their trusted technology partner.

For more information about Harbor IT, visit harborit.com.

Entrepreneur Of The Year honors business leaders for their ingenuity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit. The program celebrates original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or who raised outside capital to grow their company, transformational CEOs who infused innovation into an existing organization to catapult its trajectory, and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business model to strengthen it for the future.

This year’s New York finalists represent New York and Connecticut across all industries, including technology, consumer products, manufacturing, finance life, sciences and more.

Regional award winners will be announced on June 16 during a special celebration in Manhattan and will become lifetime members of an esteemed community of Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. The winners will then be considered by the national judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum®, where high-growth CEOs, Fortune 1000 executives and investors converge to shape the future of business.

Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, LLC, Marsh USA, SAP, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In New York, sponsors also include regional Platinum sponsor Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN), regional Gold sponsors ADP and DLA Piper, and regional Silver sponsor Stagedge.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Founded in 1986, Entrepreneur Of The Year® has celebrated more than 11,000 ambitious visionaries who are leading successful, dynamic businesses in the US, and it has since expanded to nearly 80 countries and territories globally.

The US program consists of 17 regional programs whose panels of independent judges select the regional award winners every June. Those winners compete for national recognition at the Strategic Growth Forum® in November where national finalists and award winners are announced. The national overall winner represents the US at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year® competition. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.

About EY
EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets. Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow. EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories All in to shape the future with confidence.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

About Harbor IT
Harbor IT is a cyber-first managed service provider delivering integrated IT, cybersecurity, AI and cloud solutions for complex, critical, and compliance-driven organizations nationwide.

Media Contact 
Maya Adelstein
Maya.Adelstein@HarborIT.com

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