Artificial intelligence has left behind the era of the simple conversational assistant to become an agent capable of carrying out elaborate tasks from start to finish.. OpenAI has introduced en ChatGPT Agent, a feature that boosts the chatbot's autonomy and turns it into a virtual worker that not only offers ideas or answers, but also executes real, automatic actions based on natural language commands.
This innovation represents a qualitative leap in the everyday use of AI. Users can now delegate work that previously required jumping between multiple applications or tabs and let the ChatGPT agent handle everything from data collection to results delivery, all without leaving the chat environment.
ChatGPT Agent merges previous technologies such as Operator and Deep Research
ChatGPT Agent merges previous technologies such as Operator and Deep Research, allowing the system to combine automated web browsing with information searching, analysis and synthesis from various sources. This allows the agent to access websites, fill out forms, execute commands, use business connectors such as Gmail or Google Drive, and generate editable files for download.
Notable features include: automatic creation of presentations and spreadsheets, preparing customized reports, purchasing or booking services online, and managing calendars and emails. All of this is done on a temporary, secure virtual computer that OpenAI makes available for each task, deleting the environment once completed to enhance privacy.
The interaction with the agent is fluid and bidirectional: the user can interrupt, modify or authorize each relevant action, especially in sensitive transactions such as purchases or reservations. Before performing actions that may affect third parties or handle confidential data, the system always requests explicit confirmation, ensuring the user maintains control.
As for practical applications, the agent has been subjected to tests that simulate business and personal tasks, such as event planning (weddings, travel, meetings), analyzing large volumes of emails or messages to identify trends and potential customers, or automating financial and user experience reports. According to OpenAI's internal evaluations, the agent has outperformed previous models and human analysts in tasks such as spreadsheet editing and data synthesis, standing out for its speed and accuracy.
OpenAI strives to be private and secure
In benchmarks like SpreadsheetBench or DSBench, ChatGPT Agent has doubled and even more than doubled the performance of competitors like Copilot, and has positioned itself ahead of humans in some data analysis and modeling scenarios.
Regarding security and privacy, OpenAI has put special effort into implementing additional safeguardsThe agent only executes sensitive actions after user approval, and rejects tasks that pose serious legal, financial, or personal risks. Data processed on the virtual computer is not stored, and the history can be deleted with a single click. Furthermore, mechanisms have been added to detect malicious instructions on websites, thus protecting both the user and the infrastructure.
At a strategic level, OpenAI has opted for a system of total browser abstraction, executing maneuvers in a remote environment that acts as an intermediary between the user and the web, which differentiates it from other AI agents that operate directly within the client's browser.
Now available on Pro, Plus and Team plans
ChatGPT Agent access is now available for Pro, Plus, and Team plan users., both in English and other languages, by activating it from the tools menu or by typing /agent in the conversation. Its launch in the European Economic Area is still pending due to regulatory issues, although OpenAI plans to expand it to businesses and educational institutions soon.
With this move, the company seeks to turn conversational AI into a comprehensive productivity tool, capable of automating processes, assisting with both simple tasks and complex operations, and transforming the way users interact with technology.
The emergence of ChatGPT Agent marks a clear turning point: from assistants who only respond we move on to agents who decide, execute and deliver results, all under user supervision and with enhanced protections. Businesses and individuals will be able to assess the extent to which these capabilities truly change their daily lives and whether trust in AI's autonomy grows as it evolves.