Soon AI Can Take Over Your Computer and Complete Tasks For you
While still in beta, OpenAI's agent tool may be released sooner than we think.
We've officially entered the sci-fi phase of the AI era. OpenAI's upcoming tool, "Operator," promises to be more than just a chatbot. It could soon become your computer's personal pilot, automating everything from scheduling meetings to writing code—all with minimal input from you.
While Operator isn't available yet (it's rumored to launch soon), OpenAI has already rolled out a beta feature called "Scheduled Tasks" that offers a look into what's coming. It lets users schedule automated tasks for ChatGPT to handle, like daily reminders, a recurring French lesson, or even a quick AI-generated summary of the day's news.
So, How Does It Work?
The idea is simple: You give ChatGPT a command and set a schedule, and the AI handles the rest. Imagine saying, "Remind me to call Mom every Sunday at 4 p.m." or "Send me a summary of AI news each morning."
These tasks can run even if you're offline, and you'll receive a push notification or email once they're complete. Now, AI feels like a personal assistant.
I have tested the beta version myself and am intrigued but not quite impressed yet. The outputs are full of errors, and regardless of how detailed the task you give it is, it doesn't work for everything. (Kinda like AI now, it really doesn't work for everything.)
According to software engineer Tibor Blaho, OpenAI's Operator could take this to the next level by integrating directly with your operating system. Natural language commands could be used to control your PC, automate multi-step workflows, and even navigate the web for you.
Want to book a flight, organize a spreadsheet, or troubleshoot a tech issue? Operator aims to do all that and learn your preferences along the way.
Blaho suggests it can already outperform some competitors in web navigation. However, it still struggles with complex tasks like creating Bitcoin wallets or launching virtual machines; Operator succeeded only 10% and 60% of the time, respectively. For now, it's not perfect, but as we have all seen, AI learns fast
While the potential for automation is exciting, and I am sure we can all imagine how this can help the everyday person, but also small businesses, tech executives, and clever developers, the downsides can be just as big.
If AI can handle your computer tasks, what happens to privacy? OpenAI says safety is a top priority, with rigorous testing to prevent misuse. But skeptics, including some within the AI research community, are wary of data vulnerabilities and ethical risks.
Are you ready to work alongside AI? Or maybe you already are.
Food for Thought
As we slowly move towards the convenience of letting AI do the heavy lifting, it's worth asking: Are we truly the operators, or are we slowly becoming passengers?
Let me know your thoughts.