OpenAI Launches Operator: An AI Agent Transforming Task Management
On January 23, 2025, OpenAI unveiled "Operator," its groundbreaking AI agent designed to autonomously perform tasks on behalf of users. This release marks a significant milestone in the evolution of artificial intelligence, transitioning from conversational AI models like ChatGPT to action-oriented agents capable of directly interacting with web browsers and executing tasks independently. Operator is positioned as a transformative tool in productivity, with capabilities ranging from coding to travel booking, and it is expected to redefine how individuals and businesses manage workflows.
What is Operator?
Operator is OpenAI's first AI agent capable of autonomously performing tasks on a computer. Unlike traditional chatbots, which rely on user input for guidance, Operator can take actionable steps independently. It is powered by a new model called the Computer-Using Agent (CUA), built on OpenAI’s advanced multimodal GPT-4o language model. The AI agent is designed to handle a wide variety of tasks, such as booking concert tickets, filling online grocery orders, writing complex code, and managing workflows.
Currently, Operator is available exclusively to U.S.-based users subscribed to OpenAI's premium ChatGPT Pro plan, which costs $200 per month. OpenAI plans to expand its availability to other subscription tiers, including ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise, as well as to users in other countries.