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Amazon Unveils Nova Act AI Agent in Research Preview, Expands Access to Frontier AI Models

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Amazon has unveiled a new artificial intelligence (AI) agent called the Nova Act, designed to perform various browser-based tasks. Powered by the company’s Nova family of AI models, this new AI agent is a significant leap forward in Amazon’s efforts to provide “frontier intelligence” with competitive pricing. The Nova Act is currently available in a research preview and is accessible to users in the United States. It comes as a software development kit (SDK), allowing developers to explore and integrate its agentic capabilities into their applications and systems.

The Nova family of AI models was first introduced in December 2024, with three variants—Micro, Lite, and Pro—tailored to different performance needs. These large language models (LLMs) are designed to offer advanced intelligence, with Amazon emphasizing their affordability and superior performance. Initially, access to these models was restricted to invite-only businesses, but with the launch of the Nova Act, Amazon is expanding availability to developers and AI enthusiasts. Users can now explore the Nova models on a dedicated website, which also features the Nova Act AI agent.

The Nova Act AI agent is designed to automate a variety of tasks within a web browser. While Amazon has not fully detailed the range of tasks the AI agent can perform, it is expected to handle tasks such as filling out online forms, shopping, or even booking restaurant reservations. This makes it a versatile tool for users looking to streamline their digital tasks. The AI agent is built on a custom version of the Nova models, which allows it to perform these tasks autonomously, offering a glimpse into the future of agentic AI systems capable of acting on behalf of the user.

Amazon has positioned the Nova Act as part of its broader vision for AI agents—systems that can handle tasks across both digital and physical environments. By releasing it as an SDK and research preview, the company is encouraging developers to experiment with this new technology and explore its potential applications. With this move, Amazon is not only expanding the reach of its AI models but also pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve in terms of real-world, browser-based task automation.

Zhipu AI Launches Free AI Agent, Heats Up China’s Tech Race

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Chinese AI startup Zhipu AI has unveiled a free-to-use AI agent named AutoGLM Rumination, further intensifying the fast-growing artificial intelligence competition within China’s tech industry. The announcement was made by CEO Zhang Peng during a launch event in Beijing on Monday.

AutoGLM Rumination is capable of executing complex tasks such as deep research, web browsing, travel planning, and writing research reports. It is powered by Zhipu’s proprietary models — the reasoning model GLM-Z1-Air and the foundation model GLM-4-Air-0414. According to the company, GLM-Z1-Air rivals DeepSeek’s R1 in output quality but operates up to eight times faster, while demanding significantly less computing power — just one-thirtieth of the resources.

AI agents like AutoGLM are designed to autonomously perform tasks and make decisions, and their popularity is rapidly rising as firms strive to commercialize AI tools in practical, real-world settings. The move by Zhipu comes on the heels of Manus launching what it claimed was the world’s first general AI agent — albeit at a premium price of up to $199 per month. In contrast, Zhipu is offering its agent completely free via its official website and mobile app.

Founded in 2019 as a spinoff from a Tsinghua University laboratory, Zhipu AI has rapidly gained momentum and recognition. Its GLM series of large language models, particularly GLM4, are reported by the company to outperform OpenAI’s GPT-4 on several benchmarks.

This latest product launch is buoyed by a wave of government-backed support, with the company securing three rounds of funding in one month. The most recent came from the city of Chengdu, which invested 300 million yuan ($41.5 million) into Zhipu.

As the AI ecosystem in China accelerates, Zhipu’s free access model could prove disruptive — democratizing access to advanced AI tools while pushing other domestic rivals and global players to adjust their pricing and strategies.

Zoom AI Companion to Receive Upgrades with New Agentic Features and Enhanced AI Capabilities

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Zoom has introduced several new artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for its AI Companion, expanding the assistant’s functionality with enhanced agentic features. The AI Companion is set to gain the ability to perform tasks on behalf of users, manage multi-step actions, and leverage reasoning and memory-based capabilities to execute complex activities. These upgrades are expected to roll out across a variety of Zoom’s platforms, including Zoom Meetings, Team Chat, Zoom Phone, Contact Center, and Zoom Business Solutions.

New AI Features for Zoom Users

Among the new features, Zoom Tasks with AI Companion stands out as a tool that will help users detect, complete, and manage tasks across the workplace platform. The AI will automatically identify action items in meeting summaries, chats, and emails. Once detected, it can carry out relevant tasks, such as scheduling follow-up meetings or generating necessary documents. This feature is designed to streamline work and increase productivity by automating routine tasks. It is expected to launch by the end of March.

Another notable feature is the integration of Meeting Agendas with AI Companion. This tool aims to help meeting participants stay focused by allowing hosts to set an agenda timer for each topic section. During the meeting, the AI will generate live notes, ensuring that important discussions are captured in real-time. At the conclusion of the meeting, the assistant will provide a summary of action items. This feature is expected to be available by May.

Zoom’s AI Companion upgrades signify a major shift toward more intelligent, proactive tools that enhance collaboration and simplify workflow management. By integrating these AI-driven solutions, Zoom is setting the stage for a more efficient, productive, and automated experience for its users across different platforms.