Overview
- Meta confirmed the purchase of Manus, the Singapore‑based autonomous agent startup, saying the service will keep operating independently while being integrated into Meta’s products, with Bloomberg sources valuing Manus above $2 billion and reported 2025 revenue near $125 million.
- OpenAI introduced commerce‑oriented features in ChatGPT — Atlas browsing, an Agent mode that recalls prior product views, and instant checkout for stores on platforms like Shopify and Etsy — and rolled back some shopping functions in December after user criticism over the experience.
- A MIT Sloan/BCG study reports 76% of executives now view AI agents as collaborators capable of planning, acting and learning, with 35% of firms exploring agentic systems and 44% planning adoption, and leaders expecting a sharp rise in AI decision authority and governance changes.
- Research on worker wellbeing highlights rising IA‑anxiety about creativity, careers and job security, which studies link to lower performance, underscoring calls for clear policies, reskilling programs and support as usage of generative tools grows.
- Market analysts flag more volatile trading and urge selectivity across AI exposures, with reports suggesting major private AI firms such as OpenAI could prepare 2026 listing steps, while global AI leadership remains split between U.S. innovation, China’s scale and the EU’s regulatory focus.