OpenAI is getting ready to launch a new AI tool, codenamed “Operator,” that will help users complete tasks like writing code and booking travel without needing hands-on control. This AI agent can take actions on a computer to help people get things done more efficiently.
During a recent team meeting, OpenAI’s leaders shared plans to introduce this tool as a research preview in January. It will also be available through OpenAI’s API, allowing developers to integrate it into their applications.
The launch of “Operator” follows a trend of AI companies creating tools called agents. These agents can perform complex, multi-step tasks with little user supervision. Similar tools have already been released by companies like Anthropic, which has an agent that can act in real time on a user’s computer, and Microsoft, which has tools to help with tasks like sending emails and managing records. Google is also reportedly working on its own AI agent.
OpenAI has multiple research projects focused on AI agents, with “Operator” expected to be a general-purpose tool that works within a web browser. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, hinted at this shift towards agents recently, saying that agents will likely be the next big breakthrough in AI technology.
The push toward developing AI agents comes as OpenAI and other companies are seeking new ways to innovate, especially as creating more advanced models has become increasingly costly.
Source: Bloomberg
