On Thursday, ChatGPT-parent OpenAI released a "research preview" of a new AI agent called "Operator," designed to autonomously perform web tasks.
What Happened: Operator is initially available in the U.S. for subscribers of OpenAI’s $200 per month ChatGPT Pro tier.
The AI agent employs a “Computer-Using Agent” model, integrating GPT-4o’s vision capabilities with advanced reasoning through reinforcement learning, allowing it to interact with graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
Shortly after its release, a user on X, formerly Twitter, noted a limitation in Operator’s news site access, prompting Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, to acknowledge the issue and promise a swift fix.
OpenAI states that Operator can “see” through screenshots and “interact” using mouse and keyboard actions, enabling it to perform tasks on the web without custom API integrations.
The AI startup is working with companies like DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber to ensure Operator meets real-world needs. However, OpenAI cautions that the tool may struggle with complex interfaces.
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Why It Matters: The launch of Operator comes on the heels of OpenAI’s valuation surge to $157 billion, following a $6.6 billion funding round aimed at advancing AI research and expanding compute capacity.
Despite this financial boost, OpenAI faces challenges. Earlier this month, Altman said that the company is incurring losses on the ChatGPT Pro plan. The plan, intended to generate revenue, has not met profit expectations due to higher-than-anticipated usage.
Other major tech companies, such as Microsoft Corp. MSFT and Alphabet Inc. GOOG GOOGL, have either launched or are gearing up to release similar AI agent tools.
Meta Platforms Inc. META CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also previously discussed the shift from simple chatbots to more advanced AI agents capable of managing complex tasks and objectives.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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