OpenAI is gearing up to launch “Operator,” an advanced AI agent designed to autonomously handle tasks like writing code or booking travel on behalf of users. Set for release in January, Operator will initially launch as a research preview and be accessible through OpenAI’s API for developers, according to insiders with knowledge of the project.
Operator is part of a wider trend toward agentic AI—tools that go beyond single-step queries to perform complex, multi-step tasks with minimal oversight.
In recent months, other major tech players have launched their own versions of agentic AI. Anthropic introduced an agent capable of real-time, user-directed actions, while OpenAI’s strategic partner, Microsoft, unveiled an agent suite that streamlines tasks like email management and record-keeping for business users. Google is reportedly on the brink of launching its own AI agent as well.
According to sources close to OpenAI, Operator will be a versatile, general-purpose agent that interacts primarily through a web browser, enabling a range of tasks with a seamless user experience.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hinted at the company’s shift toward agent technology during a recent Reddit AMA, stating, “We will have better and better models. But I think the thing that will feel like the next giant breakthrough will be agents.”
Operator’s release coincides with an apparent strategic shift for OpenAI, as the company and its peers seek to maximize AI’s real-world functionality, especially amid the resource-intensive demands of further model development.
