OpenAI has officially launched Operator, its first AI agent designed to autonomously perform tasks online. Announced on January 23, 2025, Operator is a web application that can handle various online activities such as booking concert tickets, making restaurant reservations, and filling grocery orders. This tool leverages a new model called Computer-Using Agent (CUA), which combines the vision capabilities of OpenAI’s GPT-4o with advanced reasoning skills through reinforcement learning.
Key Features of Operator
- Task Automation: Operator can automate tasks like flight bookings, hotel reservations, and online shopping. Users simply describe the task they want to perform, and Operator takes over the execution.
- User Interface: The interface allows users to select from various task categories including shopping, dining, and travel. Users can also save frequently used prompts for quick access.
- Cloud-Based Operation: Unlike some competitors that run within local browsers, Operator operates in the cloud. This allows it to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and navigate websites without needing user intervention for every action.
- Collaboration with Businesses: OpenAI is partnering with companies like DoorDash, Instacart, and StubHub to enhance the functionality of Operator while ensuring compliance with business norms.
Availability
Currently, Operator is available as a research preview exclusively for users subscribed to ChatGPT Pro in the United States, priced at $200 per month. OpenAI plans to expand access to other subscription tiers and eventually to a broader audience. However, there are no immediate plans for its launch in Europe.
Limitations
While Operator is capable of performing many tasks autonomously, it still requires human input for sensitive actions such as entering payment details or managing accounts. Additionally, it may not perform reliably in all scenarios, necessitating user supervision in certain cases.
OpenAI’s introduction of Operator marks a significant step towards enhancing productivity through AI agents that can execute tasks independently, potentially reshaping how users interact with technology in their daily lives.
Please visit OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s blog post about the tools that can automate tasks and take actions on your behalf.
You can also go through article about OpenAI’s GPT-5 release.
