Everyone Just Got Undercut

All about agents in this one. Chinese AI startup Z.ai drops GLM-4.5, Microsoft Edge gets its AI agent makeover, and a step-by-step guide to building presentations with ChatGPT's new Agent mode...

In this edition we’ll be covering…

• China's new ultra-cheap AI model that has OpenAI worried

• Microsoft Edge's transformation into an AI-powered browser

• A hands-on tutorial for creating presentations with ChatGPT Agent mode

• 5 trending AI signals from around the globe

• 3 AI tools to boost your productivity arsenal

The Latest in AI

Z.ai Throws Down the Gauntlet with World’s Cheapest AI Model

Chinese AI startup Z.ai just made DeepSeek look expensive. The company launched GLM-4.5, an open-source model that costs 11 cents per million input tokens compared to DeepSeek's 14 cents, and it's built on "agentic" AI that automatically breaks tasks into subtasks for better accuracy.

Here's why this might cause a huge shift in the AI landscape:

• GLM-4.5 runs on just eight Nvidia H20 chips (half the size of DeepSeek's model) while delivering comparable performance. CEO Zhang Peng told CNBC the model charges 28 cents per million output tokens versus DeepSeek's whopping $2.19—making it 268 times cheaper on outputs.

• In late June, OpenAI specifically named Zhipu (Z.ai's former name) in a warning about Chinese AI progress, calling it their top competitor. The U.S. has also added the startup to its entity list, restricting American companies from doing business with it.

• Z.ai has raised over $1.5 billion from heavy hitters including Alibaba, Tencent, and Aramco-backed Prosperity7 Ventures. The company is reportedly planning an IPO in Greater China and positioning itself as the cost-efficient alternative to Western AI models.

So What?

We know China’s been kind of winning on cost efficiency, but these models are getting stronger (plus they are open source).

While OpenAI burns through billions in compute costs, Chinese companies are proving you don't need the biggest model to deliver the best value. This price war could force Western AI companies to radically rethink their economics, potentially making high-quality AI accessible to businesses that couldn't afford it before.

Get Your Hands Dirty!

Turn ChatGPT Agent Into Your Personal Research Assistant

ChatGPT's new Agent mode can create comprehensive presentations from scratch, and it's surprisingly powerful.

Here's how to put it to work analyzing NVIDIA's stock performance like a financial analyst:

1. Navigate to ChatGPT and open a new chat. Click the tools icon at the bottom, then select "Agent mode." This unlocks ChatGPT's ability to use multiple tools autonomously and conduct research across the web.

2. Copy and paste this exact prompt for maximum results:

Act as a financial analyst preparing an executive-level presentation.

Research NVIDIA’s stock performance and generate a concise report tailored for a business executive. Your presentation should include:

Stock Performance: Summarize NVIDIA’s stock movement over the past 7 days. Include percentage changes, key support/resistance levels (if applicable), and volume trends.

Company News: Highlight the most relevant news events or press releases impacting NVIDIA in the past week. Summarize each item in 1-2 sentences and explain its potential influence on stock performance.

Government and Policy Impact: Identify any recent government actions, regulations, or macroeconomic policies (domestic or international) that may have influenced NVIDIA's stock. Explain how and why they had an effect.

Format the output as a short executive slide deck or bulleted summary, suitable for a CEO or board-level reader. Use clear, professional language.

3. ChatGPT will automatically search the web, analyze multiple sources, and compile a professional presentation. The process takes several minutes, but you'll get a comprehensive report that would typically require hours of manual research!

🔥 Pro Tip: Once your presentation is complete, ask ChatGPT to export it as a PowerPoint file (.pptx). It can generate a downloadable file that you can immediately use in meetings or share with colleagues.

Industry Intel

Microsoft Edge Gets its AI Agent Revolution

Microsoft just dropped "Copilot Mode" for Edge, and the experimental feature transforms your browser into an AI companion that can search across all your tabs, book reservations, and handle complex research tasks autonomously.

Details on Copilot Mode:

• Copilot can view and understand content across all your open browser tabs with your permission. Planning a vacation? It can compare flights on one tab, hotels on another, and suggest the best combinations without you copying and pasting data between sites.

• The AI responds to voice commands and can handle complex requests like "Find a vegan version of this recipe" while you're viewing a cooking website, or "Book a table at this restaurant for Friday night" while browsing a menu.

• This isn't just about browsing anymore, Microsoft is positioning Edge as a thinking layer between you and the internet. The AI can draft emails, create shopping lists, and manage appointments, essentially turning your browser into a personal assistant that never sleeps.

So What?

The bigger play here? Microsoft is training millions of users to expect AI assistance for every online task. Once people get used to an AI that can browse, book, and buy on their behalf, going back to manual clicking will feel primitive.

And while OpenAI is busy building the perfect AI assistant, Microsoft is quietly turning your browser into one. Turns out the race to the first AI operating system might be won by whoever controls where you spend most of your digital life…

Quick Bites

Stay updated with our favorite highlights, dive in for a full flavor of the coverage!

Vogue’s latest edition features a stunning AI model and raises serious questions about the future of real models, already struggling with unrealistic beauty standards.

Gizmodo investigates the uncomfortable reality behind AI's workplace takeover, revealing how CEOs are "extremely excited" about AI.

Samsung has agreed a $16.5B deal to manufacture AI chips for Tesla, in a move hailed by Elon Musk.

"Wizard of Oz" experience debuts on the Las Vegas Sphere, creating an immersive retelling of the classic story using AI to generate visuals for the world's largest LED screen.

Two recent incidents involving AI coding assistants put a spotlight on risks in the emerging field of "vibe coding.” In one case, Google's Gemini CLI destroyed user files while attempting to reorganize them. In another, Replit's AI coding service deleted a production database despite explicit instructions not to modify code.

Trending Tools

🌐 Hyperbrowser - Browser automation platform that runs headless browsers in secure containers for web scraping, testing, and AI-driven automation at scale.

🧑‍💼 LiGo - Complete LinkedIn system that helps agencies and founders create authentic posts and comments in their own voice.

🎵 Singify AI Vocal Remover - Advanced 10-stem separation tool that isolates vocals, drums, bass, piano, and guitar from any audio track with studio-quality precision in seconds.

The Neural Network

Chinese Premier Li Qiang just proposed creating an international AI cooperation organization at the World AI Conference, emphasizing China's willingness to share AI developments globally.

Translation: "Hey America, we're neck and neck in this AI race, maybe we should talk?"

Whether the U.S. takes the hint or doubles down on competition remains the billion-dollar question shaping the future of artificial intelligence…

Until we Type Again…

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