The AI agent revolution accelerated this week with startups worldwide unveiling technologies that could transform how we work and learn.

Mechanize, a controversial US startup, aims to achieve complete automation of all human labor. Founded by Tamay Besiroglu, who also started the research group Epoch, the company wants AI agents to handle every job—from office work to factory tasks. Besiroglu estimates the global market for replacing human wages at $60 trillion annually. While mocked online for its extreme vision, Mechanize is serious about hiring engineers and researchers to develop its platform. Competitors like Salesforce and Microsoft are also building agentic AI tools, but none have declared such an audacious goal.

In France, cybersecurity startup Qevlar raised $14 million to deploy AI investigation agents. These agents autonomously analyze security alerts, predict attack volumes, and resolve incidents. Qevlar’s CEO, Ahmed Achchak, explained that their systems integrate with existing infrastructure at Fortune 500 companies, offering a "set it and forget it" solution to cyber threats. The funding will help double their team size by mid-2025.

South Korea’s Nota AI earned a spot on CB Insights’ 2025 AI 100 list for breakthroughs in AI efficiency. Their NetsPresso® platform reduces model sizes by up to 95% while speeding up performance tenfold. This makes advanced AI viable for low-power devices like sensors and older smartphones. With 190 patents and global partners, Nota AI is emerging as a leader in edge AI—technology that brings intelligence directly to devices instead of relying on the cloud.

Education saw innovation with Kira Learning’s new AI teaching agents in the US. Chaired by Andrew Ng, the startup aims to reduce teachers’ workloads by automating grading and lesson planning. The AI also analyzes classroom discussions to identify struggling students and offers personalized tutoring. Kira initially focused on computer science education but now targets broader subjects as schools adapt to fast-changing skills demands. Ng argues AI will redefine teaching from "subject experts" to guides who foster critical thinking.

These developments show agentic AI expanding beyond tech labs into real-world applications. While Mechanize’s vision remains divisive, other startups are solving niche problems—securing networks, optimizing hardware, and supporting educators. The trend underscores AI’s growing role as a collaborative tool, though ethical questions about job displacement and privacy persist.