OpenAI plans to go beyond simple question answering and text generation with the imminent launch of a new artificial intelligence agent called “Operator” that will be able to perform web browser-related tasks for the user account.

Operator is expected to launch in January as a search preview and will be available through its anonymous developer application programming interface. sources told Bloomberg Today. It will be able to do things like write software and book flights, as instructed by its users, the sources said.

The launch of Operator suggests that OpenAI is eager to jump into the broader trend toward so-called “agentic AI,” which refers to AI software capable of performing tasks in multiple steps with minimal supervision by humans. AI agents are autonomous systems that function more like a personal assistant than traditional chatbots, and they have become one of the hottest trends in the tech industry today.

Andy Thurai, vice president and principal analyst at Constellation Research Inc., said earlier this month in an interview on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s live streaming platform, that AI agents differ from traditional chatbots because they are able to handle “probabilistic decision-making,” which allows them to adapt and learn from multiple outcomes in real time.

“This dynamic capability allows agents to go beyond simple automation and start acting as collaborators in workflows,” Thurai explained.

For example, instead of just helping a traveler search for different hotels, an AI agent can go further and book a room on their behalf, based on their stated preferences. Just tell the agent you need two beds and a jacuzzi, they will find a suitable room, make a reservation and even pay with your credit card, if they are authorized to do so.

OpenAI is far from alone in continuing this trend. Earlier this month, rival AI company Anthropic PBC announced new AI agent capabilities for workers who can automate website creation and edit spreadsheets, for example. Meanwhile, Google LLC announced various developer tools for businesses to create their own AI agentscustomized for specific tasks, using its large Gemini language models.

Other companies have also emerged at the forefront of agentic AI. Salesforce Inc. has announced a series of AI agentsincluding a customer service agent who can automatically resolve customer issues without any human intervention, and a sales representative who can interact with potential prospects on behalf of sellers. ServiceNow Inc. announced its Now Assist AI agent familyCisco Systems Inc. deployed customer service agents for Webexand startup Kolena Inc. recently announced an AI agent focused on data cleaning to improve the training and quality of other AI models.

OpenAI therefore finds itself in the unusual position of being late to the market in terms of agentic AI, and has reportedly been working on a number of AI agents to try to catch up. However, Operator, which runs tasks in a web browser, is the only one for which details are available.

Last month, during a Ask Me Anything Session On Reddit, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discussed the company’s move to AI agents, saying that while the company will continue to develop “bigger and better models,” its “next breakthrough giant will be that of the agents.

OpenAI probably feels compelled to try a different approach, as reports elsewhere suggest that it and its competitors are struggling to generate returns on their costly investments in ever more advanced AI models.

The report came out the same day that OpenAI released a draft of its policy document on AIwhich contains various suggestions for the US government’s AI strategy. Among other things, OpenAI has proposed the creation of “AI-driven economic zones” by the federal government and the creation of a bloc of allies, in order to better compete with China.

The company’s proposals also call for more energy production facilities to power AI. He argues that the United States should prioritize building renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar farms, as well as nuclear power.

Here’s Thurai’s full interview to learn more about AI agents and their potential impact on society:

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