OpenAI Unleashes ChatGPT Agent: The AI That Can Run Your Computer For You

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OpenAI Unleashes ChatGPT Agent

OpenAI just introduced its boldest AI yet — ChatGPT Agent, a virtual assistant that goes far beyond simple chatbot replies. It can control a virtual computer, handle your calendar, book dinner, generate slide decks, shop online, and even code — all by itself.

Key Takeaways:

  • ChatGPT Agent is OpenAI’s most advanced tool yet, built to execute multi-step tasks.
  • The AI can manage calendars, shop online, analyze competitors, and more.
  • It combines previous tools like Operator and Deep Research.
  • It runs on a virtual computer, not just a browser, expanding capabilities.
  • Safety features include Watch Mode, restricted financial activity, and bio/chem safeguards.
  • Currently available to Pro, Plus, and Team users via “agent mode”.

The Future of Work? OpenAI’s ChatGPT Agent Can Now Do Your Tasks for You

OpenAI just fired another shot in the AI arms race with the official launch of ChatGPT Agent, a tool designed to take AI productivity to the next level. While we’ve seen AI write emails and summarize documents, this is different — this agent can navigate your digital life, click around your screen, access tools, and complete tasks as if it were a human assistant.

It’s not just a smarter chatbot — it’s a general-purpose AI agent that can actually take actions.

Not Just Smarter — More Capable

According to OpenAI, this new agent can handle complex workflows using a combination of tools, including a text browser, visual browser, terminal access, and even integration with apps like Google Calendar, Gmail, and GitHub.

In a live demo shown to The Verge, the ChatGPT Agent:

  • Scheduled a date night by checking the user’s calendar and finding restaurant reservations via OpenTable.
  • Generated a competitive analysis report with a full slide deck.
  • Helped shop for groceries and plan meals.
  • Managed recurring admin tasks like parking requests.

This is far beyond basic prompting. We’re now looking at an AI capable of navigating and operating a full virtual computer.

A Merged Powerhouse: Operator + Deep Research

ChatGPT Agent brings together the functionality of two of OpenAI’s existing tools:

  • Operator: An agent trained to operate websites, click buttons, and fill forms.
  • Deep Research: A powerful AI capable of analyzing massive datasets and producing structured insights.

Now, they’ve been fused into a unified system — with reinforcement learning as its backbone — and are backed by a newly formed team of about 30 engineers and researchers.

And it doesn’t just observe — it acts. That’s the leap.

Designed for Real Use (Not Just Demos)

One of the most impressive parts? It’s built to work in the background.
OpenAI’s team emphasized that while the Agent might take 15–30 minutes to complete a task, it still saves the user hours — and the user doesn’t need to babysit the process.

“Even if it’s slow, it’s still a massive time-saver,” says OpenAI product lead Yash Kumar.

And to prevent unwanted consequences, ChatGPT Agent won’t make irreversible decisions like sending emails or making purchases without confirming with you first.

But… Is It Safe?

Given how powerful this tool is, OpenAI has baked in several safety precautions:

  • Biological/Chemical Safety Monitoring: OpenAI classifies the model as “high capability” in potential misuse domains, even though there’s no current evidence of danger.
  • Watch Mode: If users open financial websites, the agent shuts off unless they stay on that specific page.
  • No Memory Mode: To reduce risk of sensitive data leaks, memory is disabled for now.
  • Two-Level Monitoring: If prompts reference biological content, a second classifier checks for risk.

Essentially, OpenAI is being hyper-cautious about how this tool could be abused — and rightfully so.

How to Use It

If you’re on ChatGPT Pro, Plus, or Team, you can access the Agent starting today.
Just open ChatGPT, select “Agent Mode” from the tools dropdown, or type /agent to get started.

Enterprise and Education customers will get access later this summer. However, there’s still no ETA for Europe or Switzerland, due to regulatory challenges.

Why This Matters

For years, the AI community has fantasized about something like Tony Stark’s J.A.R.V.I.S. — a digital assistant that actually does things. We’re not all the way there yet, but ChatGPT Agent is a serious leap in that direction.

And while other companies are racing toward agentic AI — Anthropic with Claude’s “Computer Use,” Google’s Windsurf acquisition, or Klarna’s AI replacing 700 agents — OpenAI just put a working model in the public’s hands.

This could be the beginning of AI not just assisting our workflows, but owning them.

The Bigger Picture

This launch is part of a broader trend. Tech giants are pivoting from chatbots to agents, aiming to build AI that goes from being reactive to proactive.

Klarna showed us AI could replace entire customer service teams. Now OpenAI is showing us AI might handle your daily digital life — meetings, shopping, research, and more.

But it’s still early days. The real test? How well it works in the wild.

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