OpenAI just dropped a game-changer. At 10 AM PST on July 17, 2025, they launched ChatGPT Agent – an AI assistant that doesn't just talk about doing things, it actually does them. Using its own virtual computer, this revolutionary tool can browse websites, write code, create presentations, and handle complex multi-step tasks that would normally eat up hours of your day.
If you've been exploring AI task automation tools, ChatGPT Agent represents a massive leap forward. This isn't just another chatbot – it's an AI that can take control of a computer and work autonomously for 15, 20, even 30 minutes to complete real-world tasks.
What Makes ChatGPT Agent Different
ChatGPT Agent combines the best of OpenAI's previous tools – Operator's ability to click and interact with websites, and Deep Research's talent for analyzing and synthesizing information. But it goes far beyond simply merging these capabilities.
The unified agentic system can seamlessly switch between different tools: a visual browser for interacting with websites, a text browser for efficient reading, a terminal for running code, and direct API access to services like Gmail, GitHub, and Google Drive. When working on a task, it dynamically chooses the right tool for each step, much like a skilled human assistant would.
Real-World Performance That Impressed Even OpenAI
During the live demo, the OpenAI team showcased ChatGPT Agent tackling several impressive tasks. In one demonstration, it planned an entire wedding guest experience – finding appropriate attire based on the dress code, researching hotels with availability, and even suggesting culturally appropriate gifts. The task took about 25 minutes, with the agent browsing multiple websites, comparing options, and compiling everything into a comprehensive report.
Another standout demo showed ChatGPT Agent creating custom laptop stickers. Starting with just a mascot image (their colleague's "Bunny Doodle"), it generated anime-style artwork, navigated to StickerMule, set up the order for 500 stickers, and added them to the cart – all while the presenter continued talking about other features.
Benchmark Results That Set New Standards
The performance metrics for ChatGPT Agent are genuinely impressive. OpenAI shared detailed benchmark results that show significant improvements over previous models:
- Humanity's Last Exam: 41.6% accuracy (nearly double the performance when tools are enabled)
- FrontierMath: 27.4% on expert-level math problems that typically take mathematicians hours to solve
- WebArena: 65.4% success rate on real-world web tasks
- SpreadsheetBench: 45.5% when given direct Excel file access
Perhaps most impressively, on an internal benchmark measuring performance on complex professional tasks (like creating financial models or competitive analyses), ChatGPT Agent matched or exceeded human performance in roughly half the cases.
How ChatGPT Agent Works in Practice
The collaborative nature of ChatGPT Agent sets it apart from traditional automation tools. You can interrupt it at any point to provide clarification or change direction. If a task is taking longer than expected, you can pause it and request a progress summary. The agent will also proactively ask for clarification when needed, ensuring tasks stay aligned with your goals.
When demonstrating the tool's capabilities, the team showed how it could pull its own evaluation data from Google Drive and create a professional PowerPoint presentation. The agent accessed the API, found the relevant data, and generated slides complete with charts and visualizations.
The terminal capabilities were particularly impressive. The agent can write and execute code, manipulate files, and even call APIs. During one demo, it wrote Python scripts to process data and create visualizations, all while maintaining context across different tools.
ChatGPT Agent Pricing and Availability
ChatGPT Agent has a tiered rollout schedule based on your subscription type. Here's the complete breakdown of availability and message limits:
ChatGPT Pro
- Availability: Live by end of day July 17, 2025
- Status: Rolling out now
- Best for: Power users needing maximum agent capacity
ChatGPT Plus
- Availability: Within next few days
- Status: Rolling out soon
- Best for: Individual productivity enhancement
ChatGPT Team
- Availability: Within next few days
- Status: Rolling out soon
- Best for: Collaborative team workflows
Coming Soon
Enterprise & Education Plans: Expected by end of July 2025
European Economic Area & Switzerland: Currently in development, timeline TBD
Additional Usage: Flexible credit-based options available for all paid plans when you need more than your monthly allocation
Safety and Security Considerations
With great power comes great responsibility, and OpenAI hasn't taken this lightly. ChatGPT Agent includes their most comprehensive safety stack to date, with particular emphasis on preventing prompt injection attacks – where malicious websites might try to manipulate the agent's behavior.
Key Safety Features
- Explicit user confirmation before any consequential actions (like purchases)
- "Watch Mode" for critical tasks like sending emails
- Proactive refusal of high-risk tasks like bank transfers
- Privacy controls allowing instant deletion of browsing data
- Secure browser takeover mode that keeps passwords and sensitive data private
The team was refreshingly honest about the risks, with Casey (one of the researchers) stating: "This is a cutting-edge product. This is a new surface and we can't stop everything."
ChatGPT Agent vs Previous Tools
Understanding how ChatGPT Agent compares to Operator and Deep Research helps illustrate its revolutionary nature:
| Feature | Deep Research | Operator | ChatGPT Agent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web browsing | Text-only | Visual only | Both text and visual |
| Code execution | Limited | No | Full terminal access |
| Task duration | 5-10 minutes | 5-15 minutes | 15-30+ minutes |
| API integrations | Some | Limited | Extensive |
| Output formats | Reports | Actions | Reports, slides, spreadsheets |
| Interruptibility | No | Limited | Full collaboration |
Frequently Asked Questions About ChatGPT Agent
What is ChatGPT Agent and how does it work?
ChatGPT Agent is OpenAI's new AI assistant that can control its own virtual computer to complete complex tasks autonomously. It combines web browsing, code execution, and API access to handle tasks like creating presentations, booking travel, or conducting research – all while you can monitor and interrupt its progress.
How much does ChatGPT Agent cost?
ChatGPT Agent is included with paid ChatGPT subscriptions. Pro users get 400 messages per month, while Plus and Team users receive 40 messages monthly. Additional usage is available through credit-based options. There's no separate fee beyond your existing ChatGPT subscription.
When can I access ChatGPT Agent?
Pro users can access ChatGPT Agent by end of day July 17, 2025. Plus and Team users will gain access within the next few days. Enterprise and Education users should have access by the end of July 2025. European users will need to wait as access is still being developed.
What can ChatGPT Agent do that regular ChatGPT cannot?
Unlike regular ChatGPT, ChatGPT Agent can actively browse websites, click buttons, fill out forms, run code in a terminal, access APIs like Gmail and Google Drive, and create deliverables like PowerPoint presentations and spreadsheets. It can work autonomously for 15-30+ minutes on complex multi-step tasks.
Is ChatGPT Agent safe to use with sensitive information?
ChatGPT Agent includes comprehensive safety features like explicit user confirmation for consequential actions, secure browser takeover mode for entering passwords, and the ability to instantly delete all browsing data. However, OpenAI recommends caution with highly sensitive information as this is new technology with evolving security measures.
Can I interrupt ChatGPT Agent while it's working?
Yes, ChatGPT Agent is fully interruptible. You can pause tasks, request progress summaries, provide new instructions, or take over the browser at any time. This collaborative approach ensures tasks stay aligned with your goals throughout the process.
What's the difference between ChatGPT Agent, Operator, and Deep Research?
ChatGPT Agent combines and enhances both tools. While Operator could only interact visually with websites and Deep Research could only read text, ChatGPT Agent can do both plus execute code, access APIs, and create various file formats. It's a unified system that chooses the best tool for each task.
How do I enable ChatGPT Agent in my account?
Once available for your subscription tier, simply click the tools dropdown in ChatGPT and select "agent mode," or type "agent" in the composer bar. The feature will appear automatically when your account gains access during the rollout.
The Future of AI-Powered Work
ChatGPT Agent represents a fundamental shift in how we interact with AI. Instead of asking an AI to tell you how to do something, you can now ask it to actually do it. The implications for productivity are staggering.
During the launch, Sam Altman described it as bringing "feel the AGI moments" – and watching the demos, it's easy to see why. This is AI that doesn't just assist; it actively works alongside you, handling complex tasks that would typically require hours of human effort.
While the tool is still in its early stages and will occasionally make mistakes (particularly with slideshow formatting, which OpenAI acknowledges is in beta), the trajectory is clear. We're moving toward a future where AI agents can handle increasingly complex, multi-faceted tasks with minimal human oversight.
Getting Started with ChatGPT Agent
To access ChatGPT Agent, simply click the tools dropdown in ChatGPT and select "agent mode." You can also type "agent" in the composer bar. Once activated, describe your task in natural language – the more detailed, the better. The agent will show you its screen as it works, with on-screen narration explaining what it's doing.
Remember that you can take control of the browser at any time, which is particularly useful for entering sensitive information like passwords or credit card details. The agent will ask for confirmation before taking any significant actions, ensuring you remain in control throughout the process.
Read the full technical details and safety information in OpenAI's official announcement
ChatGPT Agent isn't just an incremental improvement – it's a glimpse into a future where AI truly works for us, handling complex tasks with intelligence and autonomy. While we're still in the early days, the potential is undeniable. For anyone serious about leveraging AI for productivity, ChatGPT Agent is a tool you'll want to explore immediately.
As this technology evolves, we'll likely see even more sophisticated capabilities, tighter integrations, and smoother workflows. But even in its current form, ChatGPT Agent represents a massive leap forward in making AI genuinely useful for real-world tasks. The age of AI agents has officially begun.