What to know

  • Amazon introduced Nova Act, an AI agent capable of automating tasks in web browsers without APIs.
  • The Nova Act SDK empowers developers to build agentic applications for real-world use cases.
  • Nova Act will also enhance the upcoming Alexa+ upgrade with generative AI capabilities.
  • Early tests indicate Nova Act outperforms similar agents from OpenAI and Anthropic.

Amazon has officially entered the race to redefine artificial intelligence with the launch of Nova Act, a groundbreaking AI agent designed to automate tasks directly within web browsers. Announced on March 31, 2025, this innovation is part of Amazon’s broader push into generative AI and is set to power features in the upcoming Alexa+ upgrade.

Nova Act, developed by Amazon’s AGI Lab in San Francisco, is a general-purpose AI agent that can perform tasks such as filling out forms, selecting dates on calendars, or making reservations—all without relying on traditional APIs. This makes it particularly versatile for navigating complex web interfaces like drop-down menus or pop-up dialogs.

The company has also introduced the Nova Act SDK, a toolkit available to developers for creating custom agent prototypes. This SDK enables developers to automate tasks ranging from placing online orders to scheduling appointments. With its ability to operate discreetly in the background or at scale, Nova Act is poised to become a vital tool for businesses seeking efficiency.

What sets Nova Act apart is its performance. In internal benchmarks like ScreenSpot Web Text, it outperformed competitors such as OpenAI's Operator and Anthropic's Claude 3.7 Sonnet. Amazon claims these advancements reflect its commitment to closing the gap with rivals in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

This release isn’t just about technology; it’s about vision. David Luan, Amazon’s VP of AGI Autonomy and a former OpenAI executive, describes agents like Nova Act as pivotal steps toward achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI). By focusing on decision-making and timing—key challenges in AI development—Nova Act aims to bring us closer to creating systems that can replicate human-like reasoning.

Nova Act will also play a critical role in Alexa+, Amazon’s next-generation voice assistant enhanced with generative AI capabilities. This integration could make Alexa+ not only conversationally smarter but also practically useful for automating everyday tasks.

As Amazon continues to refine Nova Act through its research preview phase, developers and users alike are eager to see how this new tool will reshape interactions with technology. Whether it’s simplifying workflows or enhancing consumer experiences, Nova Act represents a significant leap forward in the world of AI agents.

Via: GeekWire