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AI agent news for small business: 27 October 2026

OpenAI halves the price of its computer-use model, Riverside ships a four-agent video crew, and Strawberry's AI browser leaves beta.

1. OpenAI releases GPT-6.1 Terra, a faster computer-use model at half the API price of the model it replaces

   OpenAI pitches it for everyday office work like filling out forms and reading incoming invoices into accounting software, and it's in ChatGPT Work and Codex for Plus, Pro, Enterprise and Edu users today. Cheaper per task means routine paperwork is more affordable to hand to an agent, but test it on a small batch and check the entries before you trust it with your books.

   Source: OpenAI. Related guide: AI agent for bookkeeping: what it can do and what to keep for your accountant.

2. Riverside launches Producer, Editor, Clipper and Marketer agents that prep, edit, clip and schedule your videos

   If you record a podcast or videos for your business, the agents start on the edit and social clips as soon as you stop recording, and nothing posts until you approve it. That approve-before-publish setup is the one to look for in any agent that speaks for your brand.

   Source: Riverside. Related guide: Which AI agent actions need a human OK? A simple approval rule.

3. Stockholm startup Strawberry takes its AI browser out of beta, with shareable assistants that work inside your tabs

   Its assistants, called companions, can be trained on a task like researching leads and then shared with the rest of the team, and they pause for approval before sending emails or changing records. There's a free plan on Mac and Windows; if you try it, use a separate browser profile so the agent only sees the accounts it needs.

   Source: The Next Web. Related guide: Separate browser profile for the agent.

4. NetSuite adds SuiteAgents that watch inventory, contracts and job budgets and suggest next steps

   The versions for software, product and construction businesses are available now in NetSuite Next, and the construction one can turn estimates into job budgets and prepare payment applications. If you already run on NetSuite, it's worth a look; if not, it shows where accounting software is heading, with the agent flagging problems and a person still signing off.

   Source: Oracle NetSuite via PR Newswire.

5. Zendesk introduces AI agents that handle staff requests like access approvals, laptop setup and employment letters from start to finish

   The agents follow step-by-step workflows an admin builds, so they act within your own policies rather than improvising. Even with a small team, writing down how you handle onboarding and offboarding is the first step before any agent can take it on.

   Source: Zendesk. Related guide: AI agent for customer support: what it can handle and how to set it up safely.

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