OpenAI launches its agent
For the past few months, the big artificial intelligence labs have signaled that 2025 will be a breakout year for agents: tools that use computers on your behalf, working across different apps to perform multi-step operations just like humans do. Agents have rapidly become a top priority at AI labs, as they represent a key milestone on the way toward building full-featured virtual coworkers. Starting last year, a steady drip of announcements signaled that researchers are rapidly making progress toward that goal.
Introduction of Operator by OpenAI
For the most ambitious AI agent launch to date, on Thursday OpenAI announced Operator: an AI agent that can browse the web and take actions on your behalf. Operator is available through what OpenAI is calling a “research preview,” and is currently available only to users of the $200-a-month ChatGPT Pro tier. The company plans to release it to users of its $20-a-month Plus plan and other users in the months ahead.
Features and Functionality of Operator
OpenAI explained how Operator works in a blog post. CEO Sam Altman and three coworkers demonstrated Operator's capabilities in a live demo, showcasing tasks like shopping for groceries on Instacart, hunting for concert tickets on Stubhub, and booking restaurant reservations through OpenTable.
Limitations and Challenges
However, using Operator may not be as seamless as one might expect. While it can take actions on your behalf in new ways, it currently requires significant user guidance and may lead to frustration. Tasks that could be easily completed manually may take longer and be more cumbersome when done through Operator.
Experiences with Operator
Users have reported mixed experiences with Operator. While it excels at some tasks, such as suggesting top-rated walking tours or creating lesson plans, it may struggle with more complex requests, leading to inefficiencies and user interventions.
One key challenge highlighted by users is Operator's limitation in utilizing the user's personalized web browser settings, which can lead to inefficiencies in tasks that require web interactions.
Future of AI Agents
As AI agents like Operator continue to evolve, there is a consensus that they have a long way to go before becoming truly useful to the average person. However, the rapid rate of progress in AI development suggests that these tools may become more efficient and user-friendly in the near future.
