is preparing to launch an autonomous AI agent, code-named Operator, that can control computers, perform tasks independently and even do so without human intervention. The company plans on debuting it as a developer tool and research preview in January.
The move intensifies competition between tech giants in developing AI agents. Anthropic has recently released its “computer-use” capability, and Google is reportedly working on its own version due for release in December. Operator’s release date is still unknown, but its development indicates a pivotal shift towards AI systems that actively interact with computer interfaces instead of just processing text and images.
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All of the leading AI companies promise autonomous AI agents. OpenAI has recently hyped the possibility. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated in a Reddit Ask Me Anything forum that “we will have improved models,” but that “I believe the thing that will seem like the next big breakthrough will be agents.” Kevin Weil, the chief product officer of OpenAI, said at a press event held last month ahead of the company’s annual Dev Day: “I believe 2025 will be the year when agentic systems finally reach the mainstream.” The hope is autonomous agents will be the next breakthrough product – a ChatGPT scale innovation that validates massive investment in AI.
