OpenAI’s new Operator agent can use the web for you

OpenAI is releasing a preview version of its first AI agent, Operator, which is specifically designed to use a web browser and can, for example, book a table at a restaurant for the user on its own. (An AI agent is a system that can be given a task and then work on it independently.)

In the meantime, the user can either watch the Operator work on the web or do something completely different. In some cases, the Operator will wait for the user — for example, if it needs to log in somewhere or confirm that an email should be sent.

OpenAI says its Operator will not be able to perform malicious tasks. The company also notes that the tool currently has problems with more complex user interfaces, such as managing a calendar or creating a slideshow for a presentation.

Operator will initially be available to ChatGPT Pro users, which is the most expensive variant of Chat GPT at $200 a month. But ChatGPT Plus users will also have access to the agent in the coming months.

The AI agent will first be available in the US, followed by other countries. More details are available here.