OpenAI is Launching AI Agent in Next Year to Automate Tasks

In its next move towards AGI, after releasing reasoning models, OpenAI plans to introduce an autonomous AI agent, code-named “Operator”. This AI tool can handle tasks independently on behalf of users. It can perform actions like coding or arranging travel plans directly on a computer.

What is an AI Agent?

It’s an AI system designed to interact actively with computer interfaces, beyond simply processing images and text. According to Bloomberg, OpenAI aims to release it in January as a research preview and make it available to developers through the company’s API.

The move to launch AI agents by the company showcases its participation in the race of giant tech companies to develop agents. Anthropic has currently launched its AI agentic system with the ability of “computer use” to perform tasks in real-time directly on the computer on behalf of a user.

Similarly, Google is also planning to launch its AI tool of the same nature in December of this year. Microsoft has also released several AI agents.

Every major AI company has committed to developing autonomous AI agentic tools, with OpenAI recently fueling excitement about their potential. During a recent Reddit session “Ask Me Anything,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman predicted that while model improvements will continue, “the next giant breakthrough…” will likely come from “AI agents”.

Nonetheless, at a press event before the annual Dev Day of ChatGPT‘s owner company last month, chief product officer Kevin Weil added, “2025 is going to be the year that agentic systems finally hit the mainstream.”

AI tech giants are under growing pressure to turn their expensive models into revenue generators, as users may not see enough value in paying higher prices for gradual improvements alone. This financial strain, coupled with rising competition, has spurred a race to develop autonomous tools as the next transformative product.

These AI systems are seen as a potential game-changer, akin to what ChatGPT brought to the industry. By delivering practical, multi-step task automation with minimal supervision, they promise to redefine how AI integrates into daily workflows and business operations.

Success in this area could not only validate the enormous investment poured into AI research but also open up new markets and revenue streams, ensuring the sustainability and growth of AI companies in an increasingly competitive landscape.