[DigitalToday reporter Chi-gyu Hwang] As AI agents spread, the software market built for use by AI agents rather than people is growing. Major companies are also moving quickly toward so-called headless software that lets AI agents access core software functions using only APIs and MCP, without a user interface.

· From Big Tech to startups... software built for AI agents, not people, stirs

Approaches to software used by AI agents rather than people vary by company. Salesforce and ServiceNow are opening their platforms to third-party agents, while SAP is focusing on its own agents.

· Salesforce answers the future of CRM in the AI-agent era with Headless360 · ServiceNow launches Action Fabric... opens platform to external AI agents · SAP blocks external AI-agent access to its platform... Salesforce and ServiceNow open up

The spread of headless software has also emerged as a variable for the competitive landscape in the enterprise software industry. Seema Amble (시마 앰블), a partner at Silicon Valley venture investment firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), forecast that in the headless era, software competitive advantages will inevitably change, and elements based on human habits and preferences will lose power in the agent era.

· [Tech Insight] In the era of headless software without a UI, a new competitive edge

Even as companies push layoffs in many places because of AI, hiring is increasing for forward deployed engineers (FDE) who support companies in the field so they can adopt AI more effectively. OpenAI and Anthropic are stepping up support for enterprise AI adoption by setting up joint ventures with investors, and Google is also reported to be hiring several hundred FDEs.

· OpenAI sets up joint venture to support enterprise AI adoption... also acquires AI consulting and engineering company Tomorrow · Even as AI-driven layoffs rush ahead, field AI engineers have their moment... Google to hire several hundred

Other moves by companies in and outside South Korea around AI are summarised below.

OpenAI acquired Weights.gg, a startup that provided an AI voice-cloning tool. OpenAI is reported to have acquired both a small team of Weights employees and its intellectual property. OpenAI released a preview version of a personal finance tool for U.S. ChatGPT Pro subscribers. Users can connect accounts at more than 12,000 financial institutions, including Schwab, Fidelity, Chase, Robinhood, American Express and Capital One. Once connected, users can view portfolio performance, spending, subscriptions and scheduled payments on a dashboard. OpenAI also integrates the coding tool Codex into the ChatGPT app so users can remotely manage development workflows on mobile devices.

· OpenAI acquires voice-cloning startup Weights · OpenAI adds personal finance tool to ChatGPT... connects more than 12,000 financial accounts · OpenAI Codex integrated into ChatGPT app... manage remote development workflows on iOS and Android

A survey result showing Anthropic has surpassed OpenAI for the first time in the number of corporate customers is drawing attention. According to the Ramp AI Index from fintech company Ramp, the share of companies paying for Anthropic services was 34.4 percent, ahead of OpenAI at 32.3 percent. Anthropic also launched a suite of AI services for small businesses called "Claude for Small Business". The service targets small businesses such as local hardware stores and coffee shops, not large companies such as Walmart or Starbucks. Anthropic is also reported to be in talks to acquire developer tools startup Stainless for at least $300 million.

· "Anthropic surpasses OpenAI for first time in number of corporate customers"... Ramp AI Index · Anthropic targets small businesses... launches 'Claude for Small Business' · Anthropic pursues acquisition of developer tool startup Stainless, used by OpenAI and Google

Microsoft is reported to be pursuing acquisitions of AI startups that could serve as alternatives to OpenAI. Microsoft is reported to be in acquisition talks with Inception, a small startup founded by a Stanford University team.

· Microsoft looks for OpenAI alternatives... steps up AI startup acquisitions

Amazon will shut down the Rufus chatbot and deploy the Alexa assistant as the core of its AI shopping strategy. Amazon Web Services (AWS) added parallel task execution, a requirements analysis engine and a Quick Plan feature that supports rapid planning to its AI software development tool Kiro.

· Amazon reshapes AI shopping... integrates search, recommendations and ads with Alexa at the front · AWS adds parallel execution and requirements analysis to AI development tool Kiro... sharply cuts development time

Google will integrate Gemini across the Android platform and expand it into an AI operating layer spanning smartphones, browsers, cars and laptops.

· Google Android armed with Gemini... evolves into AI operating layer

Thinking Machines, an AI startup founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, released a research preview of an AI model called the Interaction Model that handles real-time interaction as a default.

· Thinking Machines releases real-time multimodal AI 'Interaction Model' as research preview

Red Hat introduced a new Linux operating system, "Fedora Hummingbird Linux", tailored for agent-centric development environments. Red Hat also announced its enterprise AI platform "Red Hat AI 3.4" at its annual conference. Red Hat AI 3.4 supports large-scale inference and agentic AI deployment. It added model service features that manage access to AI models through a central gateway, track usage and apply policies.

· Red Hat launches 'Fedora Hummingbird Linux' targeting AI agent development environments · Red Hat announces Red Hat AI 3.4 with three times higher inference performance... expands space and automotive cooperation

SAP invested in workflow automation platform n8n. n8n has developed software that automates repetitive tasks while minimising coding. SAP is also strengthening cooperation with Anthropic. The two companies decided to integrate their products more deeply so SAP customers can more easily build agents using Anthropic's Claude models. Data protection solutions company Veeam introduced a DataAI Command Platform targeting environments for agentic AI.

· SAP invests in AI workflow automation tool n8n... also integrates into AI agent builder · SAP expands alliance with Anthropic... "Make AI agent development easy with Claude" · Veeam launches DataAI Command Platform, trust infrastructure for AI agents

AI and cloud company MegazoneCloud held a press briefing and highlighted a vision to serve as an enterprise AI orchestrator to help companies resolve problems and confusion that come with building multi-agent systems. MegazoneCloud will also speed up efforts to target the financial AI market in cooperation with global accounting and consulting firm EY Hanyoung.

· "Share only AI strategies tested first and verified... compete as an enterprise AI orchestrator" · MegazoneCloud teams up with EY Hanyoung on financial AI business

Upstage will use its acquisition of Daum as a springboard to speed up an initial public offering in the second half. Key variables include its AI portal strategy, meeting listing requirements for the KOSPI and whether it realises overseas revenue.

· Upstage speeds up IPO with Daum behind it

As various changes emerge in how people work in the AI era, the growing share of spoken "speech" rather than hand typing is drawing attention. It may be irritating for people nearby, but as AI spreads, more people, especially at tech startups, appear to be working with their voices rather than their hands.

· Working by 'speech' spreads in AI era... 'AI dictation' becomes battleground in tech

Big Tech companies are speeding up efforts to flesh out an ambitious idea of using space satellites to harness solar energy for AI computing needs on Earth. AI developers could scale up AI without being constrained by obstacles they face on Earth, such as attempts to ban data centres, but turning an ambitious scenario into reality still does not look easy.

· [Tech Insight] Science fiction becomes reality?... inside an 'ambitious' space AI data centre