Software companies are rapidly changing pricing models to fit AI. Pricing plans focused on outcomes are spreading beyond user-count and usage-based models.

CRM company HubSpot is switching its AI agent pricing policy from a usage basis to an outcome basis. Charges apply only when the agent successfully completes the task it is assigned. Some companies are also charging fees based on operating assets, in addition to outcomes.

· Outcome-based AI agent pricing plans spread beyond usage...HubSpot joins in earnest · IFS abolishes user-count pricing...switches to operating-asset count

Moves by Chinese companies are also drawing attention. Chinese AI companies have focused on spreading open-source models, but have recently begun pushing monetisation in earnest by introducing closed models.

· Chinese AI firms gain momentum shifting from open source to closed models...profitability comes first

China also appears to be strengthening capabilities in AI chips, a segment seen as a weak spot. Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is expected to unveil its next-generation model, V4, within the next few weeks. V4 is reported to run on the latest chips designed by Huawei.

· DeepSeek V4 to run on Huawei chips instead of Nvidia...new milestone for China’s semiconductor self-reliance

The article also rounds up moves by companies in South Korea and abroad around AI.

OpenAI drew attention by acquiring the tech industry talk show TBPN (Technology Business Programming Network).

· OpenAI acquires Silicon Valley tech talk show TBPN

Google unveiled Gemma 4, its family of open-weight AI model products. Gemma 4 is based on the same architecture as Gemini 3 and supports running complex reasoning and autonomous AI agents locally on low-power devices such as workstations and smartphones. Google also added features to its video editing app Google Vids to direct avatar movements and change appearances using text prompts.

· Google unveils open model Gemma 4...supports complex reasoning on low-power devices · Google Vids adds feature to ‘direct’ avatars with prompts

Microsoft unveiled three in-house AI models. It introduced the speech transcription model MAI-Transcribe-1, the speech generation model MAI-Voice-1 and the image generation model MAI-Image-2. Microsoft also unveiled Copilot Cowork, an AI agent feature for its cloud productivity platform Microsoft 365.

· Microsoft releases in-house voice and image AI models...pricing also in aggressive mode · Microsoft unveils Copilot Cowork...multimodel-based multistep task automation

Oracle NetSuite, Oracle’s cloud ERP unit, announced three new AI connector service expansion features at the SuiteConnect London 2026 event. The core is an open strategy that links to external AI instead of jumping into competition with its own AI models.

· Oracle NetSuite launches MCP app...links ERP data with ChatGPT and Claude

Anthropic decided to block third-party AI agent tool integrations for Claude Pro and Claude Max plan subscribers. Even after the change, it remains possible to keep using Claude models from external agents such as OpenClaw. But users must go through the pay-as-you-go Extra Usage plan or the API. Anthropic is also reported to have acquired AI biotech startup Coefficient Bio for $400 million.

· Anthropic blocks third-party AI agent integration for Claude subscribers · Anthropic expands vertical AI strategy...acquires AI biotech startup Coefficient Bio

Cloud content management company Box launched its AI agent, Box Agent, for Enterprise Plus and Enterprise Advanced customers. Slack, a communications platform under Salesforce, is accelerating a shift from a simple messenger to an AI-based work hub by unveiling more than 30 new features.

· Box launches AI agent that processes corporate documents in natural language · Slack rolls out major upgrade...adds in-house meeting transcript notes and CRM features

Netflix unveiled VOID, an AI model that removes specific objects from video and physically restores the remaining scene naturally. Audio AI developer startup ElevenLabs launched an iOS AI music generation app, ElevenMusic.

· Netflix also releases video AI model VOID...offered as open source · ElevenLabs launches AI music generation app ElevenMusic for iOS

Apple has overhauled its AI strategy. A report said it has stepped back from developing its own AI models and shifted toward becoming a platform operator distributing external companies’ AI services.

· Apple overhauls AI strategy...focuses on distribution platform instead of developing its own models

SK AX will work to prevent system failures with AXgenticWire NPO (New Paradigm for Operation), an agentic AI-based infrastructure operations service. AI and cloud company MegazoneCloud launched AIR Studio V2, an enterprise AI OS designed to integrate management of the entire process from AI build to execution and control. Douzone Bizon signed an MOU with EY Hanyoung, a global accounting and consulting firm, to advance AI-based next-generation ERP and expand AI transformation (AX).

· SK AX unveils agentic AI-based infrastructure operations service · MegazoneCloud launches enterprise AI OS AIR Studio V2 · Douzone Bizon and EY Hanyoung partner for AX cooperation

JobKorea opened its integrated solution Hiring Center, which can run the full corporate recruitment process in a single environment, for some companies. ITCEN CloIT will introduce an AI code agent solution, Agentgo Coder for Professional, targeting the public, finance and enterprise markets through strategic cooperation with AI solutions specialist Banya AI. Upstage officially launched Upstage Studio, an integrated AI document processing solution. Video understanding AI company Twelve Labs converted 8 terabytes of unstructured video and photo data from the Korean Committee for UNICEF into an AI-based digital archive.

· JobKorea opens AI-based integrated recruitment solution Hiring Center · ITCEN CloIT and Banya AI launch Agentgo Coder for Professional · Upstage launches integrated AI document processing platform Studio · Twelve Labs converts UNICEF video and photo archive into AI