OpenAI has introduced Operator, a new AI agent designed to autonomously perform a variety of tasks online. This significant development marks a major step forward in the company’s efforts to advance AI agents, with CEO Sam Altman highlighting it as a key milestone for 2025. Operator is a general-purpose tool that can handle tasks such as booking travel, reserving restaurant tables, and shopping online, all without human intervention.
Initially available to US users with the $200 Pro subscription plan, the Operator tool is set to expand to other tiers, including Plus, Team, and Enterprise users in the future. The tool is accessible through its dedicated website, operator.chatgpt.com, and will eventually be integrated into all ChatGPT clients. Though currently limited to the US, OpenAI plans to roll out Operator to more regions, with Europe being a later addition.
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The technology behind Operator uses OpenAI’s Computer-Using Agent (CUA) model, combining the vision capabilities of GPT-4 with advanced reasoning. This model enables Operator to perform online tasks such as shopping, delivery, and booking services, with partnerships in place with companies like DoorDash, eBay, and Uber. While performing tasks, users can monitor the process, which involves interacting with websites just as a human would, including navigating menus, clicking buttons, and filling out forms.
Despite its advanced capabilities, Operator is not without limitations. It struggles with complex tasks like creating detailed slideshows or handling intricate calendar systems, and tasks that require interaction with highly customized websites may present challenges. Security measures are also in place to prevent misuse, including the requirement for users to manually input sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, and active supervision for tasks involving email or banking transactions. Operator also has dynamic rate limits to prevent excessive usage, with certain sensitive tasks restricted for security reasons.
The release of Operator represents a major milestone in the development of autonomous AI agents, which could revolutionize how users interact with digital services. While there are still concerns regarding safety and the potential for malicious use, OpenAI has built safeguards into the system to ensure secure and responsible usage.
