April 24 (Reuters) - ServiceNow ( NOW ) said on

Wednesday its first-quarter profit more than doubled, as the

software firm attracted more clients for its generative

artificial intelligence-infused tools.

The cloud software provider has been deploying GenAI

technologies in its products as businesses look to optimize and

automate operations using such tools.

"Ten of the top 20 deals of the company have been

distinguised with GenAI in mind; it is starting to show, because

we have deals with $10 million and more grow 300% year over

year," CEO Bill McDermott told Reuters.

Strong adoption of GenAI has also driven gross margin

higher, he added. Total gross margin stood at 80% in the first

quarter, compared with 79%, a year ago.

ServiceNow ( NOW ) posted a profit of $347 million, or $1.67 per

share, for the quarter ended March 31, compared with $150

million, or 73 cents per share, a year ago.

The company provides software for use by technical support

staff inside big businesses. ServiceNow ( NOW ) said last month it used

Nvidia's ( NVDA ) tools to create a "copilot" to help solve

corporate IT problems.

The company, which has 1,933 clients with more than $1

million in annual contract value, counts Zoom Video

Communication, Standard Chartered Bank and Delta Air

Lines ( DAL ) among its customers.

It expects subscription revenue between $2.525 billion and

$2.530 billion in the second quarter, below estimates of $2.54

billion, according to LSEG data.

The company's quarterly revenue jumped 24% to $2.60 billion

from a year earlier. Analysts, on average, expected revenue of

$2.59 billion.