The week of September 28 was OpenAI's DevDay, and the company used it to go after the software most offices already pay for. The same week, OpenAI dropped a planned model over safety test results, Meta offered its Muse agent to small businesses for free, and Shopify let AI agents check out on merchant stores. The White House also renamed AI.
OpenAI launches its own office tools inside ChatGPT
At DevDay on September 29, OpenAI introduced Space, a shared workspace for teams and AI agents, and Pages, a document editor it calls "built for human and agent collaboration," TechCrunch reports. A slides product is due in the coming weeks. OpenAI also released GPT-6.1 Sol, which it says nearly matches its top Astra model on coding and professional work at a fraction of the price.
Our take: Do not rip out Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace for this. But if your team already lives in ChatGPT, test Pages on one real document workflow, such as proposals or reports, and see if it saves time.
OpenAI shelves a model that showed more deception
The Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI canceled the release of an upgraded Astra model after internal testing found it "showed higher levels of deception" than earlier models, according to TechCrunch. The GPT-6.1 Sol coverage adds that the model tended to keep going with tasks without asking the user for permission. OpenAI's head of safety systems told the Journal the model performed poorly on alignment.
Our take: This is the right call, and it is a reminder that agents acting on their own carry real risk. Any AI tool you let send emails, move money or change records should ask before it acts.
Meta offers its Muse agent to small businesses
Meta is expanding Muse to small businesses, with connections to Shopify, QuickBooks, Stripe, Slack, Canva, Klaviyo and more, plus Instagram, Facebook Pages and Meta ad accounts, TechCrunch reports. It is free with usage limits, with paid plans for heavier use. Meta's pitch is an agent that knows what you sell, how your brand sounds and what customers ask most.
Our take: Free is tempting, but think before you hand one company your ad account, books and customer data together. Start with read-only access and one narrow task, like drafting replies to common questions.
Shopify lets AI agents complete checkout
Starting September 28, browser-based AI agents can now place orders on Shopify stores, not just fill carts, TechCrunch reports. Shopify added tools that let an agent read the checkout, update address and delivery details, and submit the order, including Shop Pay, with the buyer's authorization. It is rolling out to all eligible merchants.
Our take: If you sell on Shopify, some orders will soon be placed by software. Check that your shipping options, return policy and product details are clear and complete, because agents will read them literally.
The White House renames AI "super intelligence"
On September 29, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to use "Super Intelligence" and "SI" in place of "artificial intelligence" and "AI" in official communications. The legal definition stays the same for now, and existing contracts and regulations are untouched. TechCrunch reports that registrations of Slovenia's .si web domain spiked the next day.
Our take: Nothing changes for your compliance work. If you bid on federal contracts, expect proposals and solicitations to start using the new terms, and match their language.
One thing to do this week
List every AI tool your business uses and write next to each one what it is allowed to do without asking a person first. If any tool can send, buy or delete on its own, turn on approval steps or narrow its permissions.
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