New AI Desktop Agent & Claude Fable 5 Cost-Saving Tips

Summary

This week's AI news highlights the launch of Hermes, a powerful and accessible desktop agent that simplifies using AI for tasks like data collection. It's free and runs locally, allowing for frequent automated actions without incurring token costs, unlike cloud-based models. Another major release is Claude Fable 5, which can generate applications with simple prompts, but users are advised to manage its high token consumption. A strategy to control costs is to use Fable 5 for thinking and building, then leverage cheaper models like GPT 5.5 or Sonnet 46 for development and review. The Ernie Bi-modal model is praised as the best open image generator, particularly for its accurate text rendering. Meta has rolled out its Business Agent globally on WhatsApp and Messenger, enabling businesses to automate customer responses and learn from past interactions, with one user reporting an 80% time saving. Google's AI Plus plan is now cheaper at $4.99, offering increased Gemini usage and other features, though some feel it's geared towards new AI users. Finally, Agent Cookie is a free tool that allows AI agents to access websites without sharing passwords by using cookies, addressing a common security and usability concern.