Sierra has raised $950 million in funding, led by Tiger Global and GV, achieving a valuation of over $15 billion. The company plans to invest over $1 billion to establish itself as the global standard for AI-driven customer experience transformation, currently serving over 40% of Fortune 500 companies.

In 2026, many companies are implementing top-down mandates for AI transformation, reminiscent of China's Great Leap Forward in 1958. The original campaign aimed to rapidly industrialize China by producing steel, resulting in widespread famine due to ineffective practices.

Shopify, Duolingo, and Fiverr implement an "AI-first" philosophy that requires employees to prove that AI cannot perform their tasks before receiving resources such as headcount, budget, or tools. This perspective positions AI as a gatekeeper, prompting human workers to justify their roles in relation to AI capabilities.