Amazon, OpenAI, Zhipu AI Intensify Agentic AI Race

Amazon introduced Nova Act, an AI agent designed for browser-based tasks. OpenAI announced an open-weight language model, providing public access to trained parameters for custom applications.

Meanwhile, Zhipu AI unveiled a free AI assistant to strengthen its position in the domestic Chinese market. These developments reflect a growing competitive push in agentic AI, systems capable of planning, reasoning, and taking action, which are expected to become central across productivity, customer service, and e-commerce.

Sharath Srinivasamurthy, Associate Vice President of Research at IDC, states that while agentic AI has huge enterprise potential, it requires time to evolve due to varying workflows and high risks. Srinivasamurthy also states that the shift towards open models, exemplified by OpenAI's move, makes the market more competitive as enterprises seek greater control.

Abhivyakti Sengar, Practice Director at Everest Group, emphasizes that Amazon's Nova Act redefines enterprise workflows, while OpenAI's open-weight model democratizes AI development, offering customization but also new security considerations. Sengar adds that Zhipu AI's ascent underscores China's growing role, requiring multinational firms to assess partnerships and competitive strategies.