OpenAI is apparently ready to launch “Operator,” a powerful artificial intelligence assistant designed to perform tasks such as code writing and travel booking on users’ behalf.
According to Bloomberg, the tool will be released in January as a research preview. Developers can access it via an application programming interface (API).
This development coincides with a growing trend in the technology industry toward agent-based AI systems, which enable software to accomplish multi-step tasks with minimal human supervision.
Bloomberg stated that a source at OpenAI disclosed that the company has been developing multiple agent-related research projects primarily focusing on creating a general-purpose tool that operates through a web browser.
This AI agent would be capable of navigating, processing, and executing web actions on users’ behalf. “Operator” aims to bring this functionality to the forefront, empowering developers to build applications that can handle tasks previously requiring manual input.
OpenAI’s move aligns with a broader trend across major tech companies to integrate agentic AI into their offerings. Competitors like Anthropic have already introduced similar tools, including an AI agent that can perform real-time actions based on user computer events.
OpenAI’s major investor, Microsoft, also recently rolled out a suite of agent tools capable of sending emails and managing records, while Alphabet’s Google is rumored to be preparing its own AI agent for launch.
OpenAI’s Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman expressing optimism about the role of agents in a recent Reddit Ask Me Anything session stated this shift is expected to transform the AI landscape, “We will have better and better models, but I think the thing that will feel like the next giant breakthrough will be agents,” he said.
The development of “Operator” comes as OpenAI and its rivals confront mounting challenges in advancing AI models. With escalating research costs and concerns around diminishing returns, the push toward agentic AI provides a new avenue for innovation.
This strategy allows companies to leverage existing AI technology in novel ways, potentially driving value through productivity-enhancing applications without the need for continual, costly model improvements.
