Daily roundup

AI agent news for small business: 1 November 2026

Chainalysis says an AI-assisted attacker got into its systems, Claude's $200 plan drops its five-hour limit, and the UK puts an AI planning helper in 15 councils.

1. Chainalysis says an attacker using "offensive agentic techniques" got into its systems and saw customers' names, emails and job roles

   Chainalysis found no sign that passwords or investigation files were taken, but it warns customers to expect fake password-reset prompts and scammers posing as the company. A list of who holds which job is exactly what makes a phishing email convincing, so turn on two-step sign-in and treat any "fund recovery" offer as a scam.

   Source: Chainalysis. Related guide: AI crypto scams: how they work and how to protect your crypto.

2. Anthropic renames Claude's top plans (Max 5x is now Max at $100, Max 20x is now Ultra at $200) and drops the five-hour session limit for verified Ultra accounts

   Prices didn't change and the weekly limit stays, so you get longer sittings, not more total use. Notebookcheck notes that Pro at $20 a month is still enough for most people, so check what you actually use before paying for more.

   Source: Notebookcheck. Related guide: How much does an AI agent cost per month?.

3. The UK expands PlanAssist, an AI tool built with Google DeepMind that pulls together planning applications, local rules and site limits, from 3 councils to 15

   The government says early testing cut time on key planning tasks by 58 percent, aiming to halve routine home-extension decisions from eight weeks to four. A trained officer still reviews every case and makes the call, which is the right setup for any AI that drafts decisions for you.

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

4. Nous Research opens a beta of its Hermes Agent phone app on iOS (through TestFlight) and Android

   It is a sign-up for a beta, not a finished app-store release, and the page doesn't list mobile pricing. Before you link a phone app to an agent that can act for you, check what it costs and what it can reach.

   Source: ByteForward. Related guide: How to choose an AI agent platform: 8 things to check before you sign up.

5. Vercel Labs releases agent-desktop, a free open-source tool that lets AI agents click and type in regular desktop apps on Mac, Windows and Linux

   This is a building block for developers, but it means more agents will soon run inside the apps on your own computer, not just a browser. An agent that can use your desktop can use everything you're signed into there, so only connect what the job needs.

   Source: MarkTechPost. Related guide: Connect only what you need.

6. DeepSeek open-sources dsh-superagent, a research prototype that takes approved requests on GitHub and works each one in parallel, replying with finished work

   DeepSeek calls it a prototype that may have bugs, and its default setting only records what the agent would have done. That watch-first mode is a smart way to trial any new agent: see what it would do before you let it act.

   Source: FourWeekMBA. Related guide: How to test an AI agent: a 7-step plan.

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