Digital Horizons: New AI agents enable "vibeworking", News Corp intros NewsGPT & the top 100 AI apps

Digital Horizons: New AI agents enable "vibeworking", News Corp intros NewsGPT & the top 100 AI apps

  • 17.03.2025 06:13
  • abc.net.au
  • Keywords: AI, Startup

AI agents like Manus and NewsGPT are transforming workflows by handling complex tasks, enabling "vibeworking" where humans focus on creativity while AI manages execution. However, challenges remain with proper attribution and transparency in AI-driven news search tools.

Alphabet Products

Estimated market influence

Manus

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Manus is a Chinese AI company that has developed an advanced general-purpose AI agent capable of handling multi-step workflows, including web research, coding, document creation, and more. It demonstrates significant potential in reshaping how tasks are executed with AI.

OpenAI

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

OpenAI is a leading AI company that has introduced both a new agent-building platform and a specialized creative writing AI model. Their advancements are driving the evolution of AI applications across various industries, including news and content creation.

News Corp Australia

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

News Corp Australia launched NewsGPT, an internal chatbot integrating multiple AI models to assist journalists with daily tasks. This tool aims to enhance productivity while maintaining data privacy and security.

DeepSeek

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

DeepSeek is emerging as a significant player in the AI landscape, particularly noted for its impact on displacing incumbent companies and demonstrating how existing models can be packaged into focused products solving real-world problems.

Swedish Radio (SR)

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Swedish Radio has introduced an AI-assisted news search beta, enhancing accessibility and user engagement through conversational interactions. This initiative reflects the growing integration of AI in media and broadcasting.

Context

Business Insights and Market Implications Analysis

Key Facts and Data Points:

  • Manus AI:

    • A general-purpose AI agent capable of handling multi-step workflows like research, coding, and document creation.
    • Built on existing LLMs (Claude, etc.), demonstrating the potential of repurposing models for specific tasks.
    • Currently invite-only, with demo videos available.
  • OpenAI's Agent Building Platform:

    • Enables creation of AI agents for tasks like financial analysis and customer service.
    • Highlights OpenAI’s shift toward real-world applications over raw model performance.
  • Top 100 AI Apps Survey:

    • ChatGPT leads with 400 million weekly active users.
    • AI video tools (Hailuo, Kling AI) and “vibecoding” platforms are gaining traction.
    • Video editing remains the most widely adopted use case.
  • News Corp’s NewsGPT:

    • Integrates OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude.
    • Designed for newsrooms to assist with drafting, summarization, meeting agendas, and tone validation.
    • Concerns raised by MEAA over data usage and lack of compensation for journalists.
  • Swedish Radio’s AI Search Beta:

    • Receives thousands of queries weekly on global and hyper-local topics.
    • Provides follow-up queries and links to full stories.
  • AI Search Transparency Issues:

    • Study reveals AI tools often misrepresent news sources, reducing transparency and traffic to original reporting.

Market Trends and Business Impact:

  • Rapid Evolution of AI Tools:

    • General-purpose AI agents (Manus, OpenAI) are reshaping workflows by handling complex tasks autonomously.
    • The shift from single-step tasks to multi-step execution is driving productivity gains across industries.
  • Increased Competition in AI Landscape:

    • New players like DeepSeek are challenging established giants.
    • Major tech companies (OpenAI, Google) are pivoting toward practical applications and partnerships.
  • Focus on Usefulness Over Performance:

    • The market is moving beyond raw model capabilities to emphasize solving real-world problems effectively.

Competitive Dynamics:

  • News Corp’s Strategic Move:

    • NewsGPT positions as a productivity tool for journalists, not a replacement.
    • Faces scrutiny over data privacy and journalist compensation.
  • Swedish Radio’s Beta Success:

    • Demonstrates the demand for AI-driven news search tools in public broadcasting.
    • Collaboration with the European Broadcasting Union highlights potential for scaling.
  • OpenAI’s Dominance:

    • Leading the market with its agent-building platform and specialized models (e.g., creative writing).

Strategic Considerations:

  • Transparency and Attribution:

    • Publishers and broadcasters must address concerns over AI attribution to maintain trust and traffic.
  • Regulatory Risks:

    • Potential for future regulations around data usage, AI-generated content, and news source transparency.
  • Human-AI Collaboration:

    • The concept of “vibework” emphasizes human oversight and creativity alongside AI-driven productivity.

Long-Term Effects:

  • Productivity Redefinition:

    • AI agents will redefine individual and team productivity by automating routine tasks, allowing humans to focus on strategy and innovation.
  • Industry Transformation:

    • The media and entertainment sectors are likely to see increased efficiency in content creation, news reporting, and audience engagement.
  • Global Adoption:

    • The success of AI tools like NewsGPT and Swedish Radio’s beta suggests broader adoption across industries and geographies.

Conclusion:

The rapid evolution of AI agents like Manus and OpenAI’s platform signals a new era of human-AI collaboration, where businesses can achieve unprecedented productivity gains. However, challenges around transparency, attribution, and regulation must be addressed to fully realize the potential of these tools.