ChatGPT Steps Into Agentic AI with Task Automation

ChatGPT Steps Into Agentic AI with Task Automation

OpenAI has announced a groundbreaking update to ChatGPT, introducing “tasks,” a feature that allows users to schedule and automate actions. This new capability, which represents OpenAI’s foray into agentic AI, will roll out in beta to ChatGPT Plus, Teams, and Pro users over the coming days.

Today we’re rolling out a beta version of tasks—a new way to ask ChatGPT to do things for you at a future time.

Whether it’s one-time reminders or recurring actions, tell ChatGPT what you need and when, and it will automatically take care of it. pic.twitter.com/7lgvsPehHv

— OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 14, 2025

With tasks, users can now request ChatGPT to perform specific functions at a later time, such as providing daily weather updates, sending reminders, or delivering weekly news briefings. Essentially, tasks serve as an intelligent combination of Google Alerts, personal calendars, and ChatGPT’s advanced conversational abilities.

What Is Agentic AI?

The addition of tasks marks OpenAI’s first venture into agentic AI, where systems can independently perform actions on behalf of users. This is a significant leap forward from ChatGPT’s traditional interaction, which required step-by-step user prompts.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had previously highlighted agentic AI as a key focus, predicting that 2025 would be the year for such agents to demonstrate their potential. During a Reddit AMA, Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil described how ChatGPT messaging users proactively would be a prominent theme in the near future. This update aligns with OpenAI’s vision to advance toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), systems capable of performing complex, human-like tasks.

How ChatGPT Tasks Work

To access the new feature, users must select “4.0 with scheduled tasks” from the dropdown menu in ChatGPT. Once enabled, any message sent in this mode can automatically generate a task. Users can manage their tasks via a dedicated tasks manager, initially available only on the web app. Notifications for scheduled tasks will be sent via browser, macOS systems, or the ChatGPT mobile app.

Examples of tasks include:

• Sending daily affirmations at a specific time.
• Sharing a knock-knock joke for children each evening.
• Providing reminders for upcoming events or ticket sales.

OpenAI assures users that tasks can be tailored for professional and personal needs, offering a seamless integration into daily routines.

While tasks signal progress, questions remain about how close OpenAI is to achieving AGI. According to internal documents, OpenAI has outlined five stages of AI development, with “agents” marking level three and “organizations” representing level five, or AI capable of managing enterprise-level tasks. However, some experts argue that AI models may have reached a developmental plateau, suggesting that AGI could still be years away.

Global Rollout of Tasks in Beta

Starting today, the beta feature will be available globally to Plus, Teams, and Pro users on web browsers, macOS desktop apps, and mobile platforms. The task manager will initially be exclusive to the web app, with plans to expand functionality in future updates.

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