OpenAI Announces AI Agent That Can Book Travel And Shop Online Autonomously

Computer screen with multiple browsing tabs open

OpenAI has announced the launch of an AI agent that can perform tasks autonomously.

The new tech dubbed ‘Operator’ is rolling out as a research preview first, but will be available to US users on ChatGPT’s Pro subscription before rolling out on Plus, Team and Enterprise plans.

Operator will be able to perform tasks like booking hotels and restaurants and shopping online, being able to carry out tasks with limited human oversight.

In the Operator interface, users can choose from a variety of categories including shopping, delivery and travel. Once users decide what they want the Operator to do, a separate web browser opens up for the agent to autonomously complete tasks – users will still be able to use their device as normal while the agent works in the background.

According to OpenAI, the technology is powered by a Computer Using Agent (CUA), which interacts directly with the front-end of websites. This eliminates the need for developer Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), enabling the agent to navigate websites and complete forms as a human user would.

The tech giant has said it’s collaborating with companies like eBay and StubHub to ensure adherence of terms of service on websites.

With this being the first roll-out of the tech, users have been warned that it isn’t the finished product yet.

The company said on its website that Operator can’t deal with “complex interfaces like creating slideshows or managing calendars” and that “early user feedback will play a vital role in enhancing its accuracy, reliability, and safety, helping [OpenAI] make Operator better for everyone”.

Users have been advised to exercise caution when using Operator for sensitive tasks, such as handling bank transactions or replying to emails. OpenAI emphasises that, despite Operator’s autonomous capabilities, active user supervision is still required.

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