OpenAI’s new AI assistant Operator allows ChatGPT Pro subscribers to delegate web-based tasks to an AI that can browse, complete forms, and execute actions on their behalf.
Key features and functionality: Operator integrates directly with ChatGPT Pro and includes a miniature browser window that enables users to monitor the AI as it completes assigned tasks.
- The service requires a $200 monthly ChatGPT Pro subscription
- Users can observe Operator’s actions through an embedded browser interface
- The AI can navigate websites, fill out forms, and execute various online tasks
Real-world testing and capabilities: Hands-on testing revealed Operator’s ability to handle diverse tasks, though with varying degrees of success.
- Successfully ordered consumer products through Amazon
- Completed domain name purchases and configuration
- Attempted to make restaurant reservations and schedule appointments
- Required occasional human intervention when encountering obstacles
Technical limitations and user experience: While Operator shows promise in automating routine tasks, several constraints impact its effectiveness.
- Often needs guidance and correction when faced with unexpected situations
- May require multiple attempts to complete complex multi-step processes
- Performance varies depending on the complexity of the requested task
- Works best with structured, predictable online interactions
Industry context and market positioning: Operator represents part of a broader trend in AI agent development across major tech companies.
- Google and Anthropic are developing similar AI agents aimed at task automation
- The technology suggests potential future applications in workforce automation
- Silicon Valley is increasingly focused on autonomous AI assistants that can handle routine tasks
Adoption considerations: The current iteration of Operator highlights both the potential and limitations of AI agents in real-world applications.
- The $200 monthly subscription cost may limit adoption to business users and tech enthusiasts
- Success rates vary significantly based on task complexity and website compatibility
- Human oversight remains necessary for optimal results
Looking ahead: While Operator demonstrates the growing capabilities of AI agents, its current limitations suggest we’re still in the early stages of truly autonomous AI assistants. The technology shows promise for automating routine tasks but requires continued development to achieve consistent reliability across diverse use cases.
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...