‘We think this is going to be a big trend in AI and really impact the work people can do, how productive they can be, what they can accomplish’
OpenAI, the creators behind ChatGPT, have just lifted the curtain on their latest innovation—an AI assistant named Operator that can independently perform internet tasks once directed by a user.
Described as an AI agent, these tools are designed to autonomously execute specific tasks assigned by users. During a live demo video, OpenAI’s chief Sam Altman showcased how Operator can navigate a web browser to fulfil tasks such as locating and booking a restaurant table or conducting an online shop from a photo of a shopping list provided by the user.
We think this is going to be a big trend in AI and really impact the work people can do, how productive they can be, what they can accomplish,” Mr Altman remarked during the announcement live stream. He noted that while Operator is currently in an “early research preview” phase,
it will initially become available to US-based subscribers of OpenAI’s $200-a-month Pro service. “We’ve got a lot of improvements to do – we’ll make it better, we’ll make it cheaper, we’ll make it more widely available – but we really want to put it in people’s hands,” he added.
Mr Altman also teased the upcoming release of additional agents in the near future. Earlier in the month, he speculated on his personal blog about the year 2025 marking the beginning of AI agents being deployed by tech companies, suggesting that these tools would “join the workforce and materially change the output of companies”.
In response to fears that AI could disrupt the job market and replace human roles, many tech executives and industry figures have countered this view, arguing that AI will instead enhance and support human work by taking over mundane and easily automated tasks, thereby freeing up workers for other activities. Annika Bizon, Samsung UK and Ireland’s director of mobile experience, echoed this sentiment as she unveiled the new AI-powered S25 smartphones this week.
She believes that the increasing use of AI in mobile devices will boost human productivity rather than supplant it. “For us, it’s all about giving you the best opportunity to use whatever you want to use in your life in the best possible way,” she said.
“And I think this is a really interesting point around what AI is going to do for the future because it’s going to be a level up.Someone said to me, do you think people are going to lose their jobs through AI? No, I think people are going to lose jobs against the person that’s using AI.”
“It’s like trying to find something in an encyclopaedia versus using the internet. That’s the game change we’re talking about, and for me, that’s incredibly exciting.”
