OpenAI Introduces Advanced ChatGPT Agent Capable of Handling Complex Tasks

OpenAI has unveiled a powerful new AI agent for ChatGPT, designed to perform complex, multi-step tasks—marking a significant leap in the evolution of intelligent assistants. The feature is now available to users on the Pro, Plus, and Team plans starting Thursday.

A Next-Gen AI Assistant

Unlike traditional chatbots that respond to individual prompts, OpenAI’s new agent acts more like a virtual executive assistant. It can autonomously carry out entire tasks such as planning travel, ordering an outfit based on weather and dress codes, or conducting deep research—all without requiring constant user input.

This new agent merges capabilities from OpenAI’s earlier agentic tools:

• Operator: Which enabled ChatGPT to interact with websites.
• Deep Research: Which handled multi-step research and information gathering.

Tech Giants Bet Big on AI Agents

AI agents are rapidly becoming the new frontier in artificial intelligence. Big tech firms like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Oracle are investing heavily in the technology to enhance productivity and reduce operational costs.

OpenAI’s move reflects its ambition to stay ahead in the competitive AI landscape. The company, backed by Microsoft, also lists Google as a cloud partner to meet the surging demand for computing power—though it clarified there are no plans to adopt Google's in-house AI chips.

How It Works

The new agent leverages a virtual computer environment where it uses a suite of built-in tools to interact with the internet and external apps. Users can connect third-party platforms such as Gmail, Google Drive, and GitHub, enabling ChatGPT to pull relevant data and automate workflows more efficiently.

For example, ChatGPT can:

• Analyze your calendar, check weather forecasts, and book travel accordingly.
• Fetch code from GitHub and debug it.
• Search the web and cite sources in a structured report.

What It Means for Users

With the rollout now live, ChatGPT becomes far more than a conversational AI—it transforms into a smart, autonomous digital agent capable of completing end-to-end tasks.

This development not only pushes the boundaries of productivity tools but also underscores a broader shift in AI’s role—from passive responders to proactive problem-solvers.