OpenAI has released its advanced AI agent, the Operator, to ChatGPT Pro users in the European Union as well as Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. This extension allows users to benefit from the autonomous capabilities of the Operator, which is able to perform complex tasks on the Internet on its own.
Key features of the OpenAI Operator:
- Autonomous web navigation: the operator can independently operate a web browser to perform tasks such as online shopping or information research.
- Integration with online services: By cooperating with platforms such as InstaCart, Booking, Expedia, Uber and Stubhub, the operator can seamlessly arrange services for the user.
- Technological basis: The operator is based on the Computer-Using Agent (CUA), which uses the vision function of GPT-4o and has been enhanced by reinforcement learning to interact with graphical user interfaces.
Autonomous web navigation and task management
The operator is designed to handle complex and multi-step tasks autonomously by breaking them down into individual steps. A practical example is online shopping: if a user tells the operator which dish they would like to prepare, the agent independently searches for suitable recipes and orders the required ingredients from a grocer.
Operator update
It’s now available to all Pro users in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein & Iceland. https://t.co/aw0GIjHzCH
– OpenAI (@OpenAI) March 13, 2025
This capability for autonomous web navigation enables the operator to perform a variety of tasks on the Internet without the user having to perform each step manually.
Technological basis and mode of operation
The operator uses the Computer-Using Agent (CUA), a model based on the vision function of GPT-4o and supplemented by additional reasoning capabilities developed using reinforcement learning. This training enables the operator to interact with graphical user interfaces, allowing it to use conventional controls such as buttons, menus and text input fields. Unlike systems that rely on specific APIs, the operator acts independently and flexibly, with the web browser directly integrated.
Current development status and outlook
The operator is currently in a preview version (research preview) and is offered as a stand-alone tool. However, OpenAI plans to integrate the Operator directly into ChatGPT in the future and also provide access for users of the paid Plus, Team and Enterprise subscriptions. Although the Operator already shows impressive capabilities, users on platforms such as Reddit report that the system still has bugs and is considered a technical demonstration that needs further improvements.
By extending access to the Operator to European ChatGPT Pro users, OpenAI is taking a significant step towards testing and further developing the capabilities of AI agents in everyday life. It remains to be seen how the operator proves itself in practice and what other functions will be implemented in future versions.
