OpenAI has unveiled Operator, its first semi-autonomous AI agent, which is designed to “operate” an internet browser very like an individual would, on their behalf. The agent makes use of the cursor to level and click on, varieties by itself, browses the net and performs actions on varied web sites, similar to reserving restaurant reservations by way of OpenTable and assembling orders on Instacart and DoorDash. That’s as an alternative of being confined to the ChatGPT interface or OpenAI’s utility programming interface (API).
“This product is the beginning of our step into agents,” stated CEO and cofounder Sam Altman in a demo livestreamed on the corporate’s YouTube Channel at present at 1 pm ET.
OpenAI president and fellow cofounder Greg Brockman wrote on X: “2025 is the year of agents.”
The preview, now accessible to paying U.S. subscribers of OpenAI’s ChatGPT Professional ($200 per thirty days) plan, goals to display the potential of agentic AI whereas gathering important suggestions to refine its capabilities.
Operator doesn’t take over your net browser, although. As an alternative, you go to a separate, new web site — operator.chatgpt.com — and are confronted with a immediate enter field much like ChatGPT.
Typing a request into this field — “find me tickets for the LA Lakers game tonight” — will set off Operator to open a separate, digital browser operating within the cloud on OpenAI servers. Then, the agent can execute duties like filling out varieties, managing on-line reservations, even reserving tickets to sporting occasions and live shows, and navigating different frequent workflows. The consumer watches the cursor transfer by itself on the cloud-based browser in actual time. If the agent encounters an issue, it’s going to cease and message the consumer through a textual content output, much like ChatGPT’s responses.
Additionally, beneath the digital browser, the consumer will see ideas of actions Operator can tackle their behalf.
But, the consumer can take management at any time — much like semi-autonomous driving programs in trendy automobiles. Operator additionally asks the consumer to enter their very own fee credentials when it reaches a purchase order display on one other web site. Lastly, customers can save specific workflows that they want to use going ahead and begin them once more.
Operator is powered by what OpenAI calls computer-using agent (CUA) know-how, a brand new variant of GPT-4o educated particularly to make use of computer systems.
Bridging AI and GUIs
Operator stands other than different automation instruments by mimicking human interplay with graphical consumer interfaces (GUIs).
As an alternative of counting on specialised APIs, the system leverages screenshots for visible enter and makes use of digital mouse and keyboard actions to finish duties.
The underlying CUA mannequin combines GPT-4o’s imaginative and prescient capabilities with reinforcement studying, enabling the agent to understand, cause, and act on display.
This method permits Operator to deal with numerous duties, together with ecommerce looking, journey planning, and even repetitive duties like creating playlists or managing buying lists. Notable benchmarks illustrate its effectiveness:
• 87% success charge on WebVoyager, a take a look at of stay web site navigation
• 58.1% success charge on WebArena, which simulates real-world ecommerce and content material administration situations
However there’s already robust competitors: Simply yesterday, Chinese language tech agency ByteDance (TikTok’s mum or dad firm) launched its personal AI agent for controlling net browsers and performing actions on a consumer’s. behalf. Referred to as UI-TARS, it’s completely open-source and boasts equally spectacular benchmark efficiency (although doesn’t seem to have been in contrast immediately on the identical benchmarks). Which means OpenAI’s Operator will should be considerably higher or extra dependable to justify the comparatively excessive ($200/month) value of accessing it by way of ChatGPT Professional subscriptions.
Already being examined in enterprise net navigation use instances
OpenAI is partnering with a number of companies to make sure Operator meets real-world wants. Corporations together with Instacart, DoorDash and Etsy are already testing the know-how to be used instances starting from grocery supply to customized buying.
Brett Keller, CEO of Priceline, remarked on its utility for journey planning, calling it “a significant step in making travel more seamless and personalized.”
For public-sector purposes, the Metropolis of Stockton is exploring methods to make use of Operator to simplify civic engagement. Jamil Niazi, the town’s director of data know-how, highlighted AI’s potential to make enrolling in providers simpler for residents.
But there are limitations. Tech publication Each received an early preview, has been testing it for the previous week, and located that:
“One of many peculiarities of Operator’s design is that it doesn’t use your browser. As an alternative, it makes use of a browser in certainly one of OpenAI’s information facilities you could watch and work together with remotely. The upside of this design choice is that you need to use Operator wherever and each time — for instance, on any cellular machine.
“The downside is that many sites like Reddit already block AI agents from browsing so they can’t be accessed by Operator. In this research preview mode, Operator is also blocked by OpenAI from accessing certain resource-intensive sites like Figma or competitor-owned sites like YouTube for performance or legal reasons.”
Security measures
Given its means to behave on customers’ behalf, Operator has been developed with sturdy security options:
• Misuse prevention: The system is educated to refuse dangerous requests and contains safeguards in opposition to adversarial assaults, similar to malicious prompts embedded in web sites.
OpenAI has additionally included options to guard consumer privateness, together with choices to clear looking information and choose out of knowledge sharing for mannequin enhancements.
Enterprise version coming
OpenAI envisions a broader position for Operator in each particular person and enterprise settings. Over time, the corporate plans to increase entry to Plus, Group, and Enterprise customers, finally integrating Operator into ChatGPT.
There are additionally plans to make the underlying CUA know-how accessible through an API, enabling builders to create customized computer-using brokers.
Regardless of its potential, Operator stays a piece in progress. OpenAI has been clear about its limitations, similar to difficulties with advanced interfaces or unfamiliar workflows. Early consumer suggestions will play a pivotal position in bettering the system’s accuracy, reliability and security.
As OpenAI refines Operator by way of real-world use, it’s in search of to remodel AI from a passive instrument into an lively participant within the digital ecosystem. Whether or not it’s simplifying on a regular basis duties or innovating enterprise workflows, OpenAI is positioning Operator as the subsequent step in making AI accessible, sensible, and safe.
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