A ransomware attack crippled Pennsylvania’s Attorney General office, exposing sensitive data including names, Social Security numbers and medical details. Inc Ransom claimed responsibility after exploiting a Citrix vulnerability that disrupted systems for weeks.
Berlin-based Peec AI has raised a $21M Series A to scale its marketing platform for the AI search era. As consumers shift from Google to ChatGPT, Peec helps brands analyse and improve their visibility in AI-generated answers, pioneering the new field of Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO).
Parallel Web Systems, the AI startup from former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, has secured $100 million in a Series A round co-led by Kleiner Perkins and Index Ventures. The company is building a new layer of web infrastructure designed for AI agents to search and interact with live, accurate data.
Manus AI landed in Sydney with live demos that stunned the crowd. Its autonomous agent builds real apps, automates workflows, and keeps working in the cloud even after users disconnect. Developers called it a “digital colleague,” not just a tool. Game-changing potential.
The buzz surrounding the Manus AI agent reached Sydney last night, and Cyber News Centre was present as its global roadshow continued. Following their Melbourne event, anticipation was high. Developed by startup Monica, Manus is presented as a general purpose autonomous AI agent. Its core design philosophy centers on bridging the gap between human intention and action; it aims not just to process information, but to independently execute the necessary complex, multi step tasks required to achieve a user's goal, effectively delivering tangible results.
Cyber News Centre attended the event to get a better understanding of the practical implications of this technology beyond the online discussion.
The Sydney event itself was impressive, drawing a diverse crowd of entrepreneurs, developers, and small business owners. The main presentation was delivered by Parker Lyman, Chief of Staff at Manus, who outlined the vision behind the agent.
The atmosphere reflected serious consideration of how this form of autonomous AI could reshape workflows. From our perspective, the event underscored rapid advancements in autonomous AI. The potential for tools like the Manus AI agent to accelerate development and empower businesses is clear. While enthusiasm was high, discussions also touched upon practicalities like reliability and data handling, common themes with new AI systems.
Discussions highlighted specific benefits, focusing on the tangible impact Manus aims to deliver. What distinguishes the Manus AI agent is its claimed ability to operate truly autonomously, breaking down complex tasks and utilizing multiple specialized agents to achieve goals without constant human guidance. For developers, Manus AI positions itself as a leap beyond current coding assistants, promising autonomy in generating, debugging, and deploying code, potentially managing entire project workflows. This allows developers to focus on complex problem solving. As noted,
"Developers in Sydney were generally impressed by Manus AI’s ability to autonomously execute complex, multi step tasks... felt like working with a highly capable digital colleague rather than just a tool."
Furthermore, a compelling aspect is the potential for the Manus AI agent to make advanced AI task automation accessible for small businesses. Companies could leverage Manus for functions like data analysis, market research, or streamlining operations. A key perk highlighted is its asynchronous cloud based operation; users can initiate a task and then disconnect or turn off their computer, and Manus continues working in the cloud, notifying the user upon completion. This offers powerful capabilities without prohibitive investment or constant supervision.
Highlighting its real-world effectiveness, the Manus team recently shared on X how their autonomous AI selected their new Tokyo office location.
Manus picked the Manus office in Tokyo.
— ManusAI (@ManusAI_HQ) April 23, 2025
We asked Manus to find office space and nearby housing that met our requirements.
After considering all relevant factors, Manus delivered a website with well informed recommendations and an interactive map of 10 office and housing… pic.twitter.com/TpeyAdlEVv
The evening's highlight was when attendees shared projects built using Manus, showcasing concrete outcomes. People demonstrated functioning websites, applications, and automated workflow systems, reportedly created quickly with the Manus AI agent. Seeing these practical applications brought the potential into sharp focus. It truly was, as many attendees felt, "Incredible work that people have created using Manus."
The Sydney showcase offered valuable insight into a technology driving global discussion. Witnessing demonstrations and user projects highlighted its potential impact on business automation and software development. As autonomous AI advances, platforms like Manus suggest a notable shift in how complex digital tasks might be approached.
Berlin-based Peec AI has raised a $21M Series A to scale its marketing platform for the AI search era. As consumers shift from Google to ChatGPT, Peec helps brands analyse and improve their visibility in AI-generated answers, pioneering the new field of Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO).
Parallel Web Systems, the AI startup from former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, has secured $100 million in a Series A round co-led by Kleiner Perkins and Index Ventures. The company is building a new layer of web infrastructure designed for AI agents to search and interact with live, accurate data.
Australia is entering the age of agentic intelligence as startups like Firmus Technologies and Sharon AI build sovereign compute, renewable powered data infrastructure and AI platforms. Infrastructure is accelerating while enterprise adoption remains slow, creating a widening national gap.
New York-based Aily Labs has secured $80 million in funding to scale its AI-native decision intelligence platform, which uses autonomous agents to help Fortune 500 companies accelerate performance. The investment was led by FPV Ventures, with participation from Insight Partners and J.P. Morgan.
Where cybersecurity meets innovation, the CNC team delivers AI and tech breakthroughs for our digital future. We analyze incidents, data, and insights to keep you informed, secure, and ahead. Sign up for free!
