The team behind ChatGPT is introducing an innovative way to harness the power of artificial intelligence. OpenAI has just rolled out Operator, an AI agent designed to autonomously handle tasks on your behalf.
Operator Available Exclusively for Pro Subscribers
This AI agent is engineered to browse the internet and complete various tasks for you. Currently, it can assist with making dinner reservations, shopping for products, filling out forms, and more.
OpenAI is partnering with several companies like DoorDash, Instacart, OpenTable, Priceline, StubHub, Thumbtack, and Uber to enhance its capabilities.
In a blog post, OpenAI elaborated on how Operator functions:
Operator is capable of “seeing” (through screenshots) and “interacting” (using all the mouse and keyboard actions) with a browser, allowing it to perform tasks online without needing specific API connections.
If it encounters obstacles or errors, Operator can use its reasoning abilities to correct itself. Should it get stuck, it can easily return control to the user, ensuring a seamless and cooperative experience.
In addition to predefined commands, users can input their personalized instructions. Operator can also manage several tasks at the same time.
However, it’s worth noting that Operator isn’t flawless. OpenAI admitted that the agent struggles with intricate interfaces, such as calendar management.
Operator is accessible via a dedicated website. Right now, it’s available as a “research preview” only to subscribers of the $200 monthly Pro plan, which was launched in December 2024.
In the future, this tool will also be made available to Plus, Team, and Enterprise customers, and will be integrated directly into ChatGPT.
The Future of AI
While previous versions of ChatGPT and similar chatbots have been largely reactive, requiring user direction, Operator represents a new type of AI. By working autonomously to accomplish tasks online, this technology aims to streamline everyday processes effectively.
OpenAI is heavily invested in the potential of AI agents. In a blog post from late 2024, CEO Sam Altman indicated that AI agents might join the workforce as early as 2025.