ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has introduced new tools for developers, aimed at helping them create advanced AI agents through a set of application programming interfaces (APIs), as competition from Chinese AI startups intensifies. AI agents are built to independently carry out complex real-world tasks without direct human oversight, while APIs are strings of code that facilitate standardized communication, data exchange, and functionality between software components.
The newly launched tool, called the Responses API, is now accessible to all developers at no extra cost. It will replace OpenAI’s existing Assistants API, which is scheduled to be phased out by the second half of 2026.
After DeepSeek, it is ‘Monica fears’
This announcement closely follows the release of advanced AI models by Chinese startups, which claim to rival or surpass industry-leading US models at significantly lower costs. One notable Chinese startup, Monica, has drawn attention in recent days after launching its autonomous AI agent, Manus, just weeks after DeepSeek received praise from Silicon Valley executives and U.S. tech company engineers.
Monica asserts that its Manus AI outperforms OpenAI’s DeepResearch agent and announced on Tuesday a partnership with the team behind Alibaba’s Qwen AI models. Manus makes its kina debut, weeks after China’s DeepSeek sent shockwaves across America’s AI industry with its many times more efficient model than some of the leading AI solutions from American technology giants.