OpenAI is planning to move beyond simply answering questions and generating text with the imminent launch of a new artificial intelligence agent called “Operator” that will be able to perform web browser-related tasks on behalf of users.

Operator is expected to launch in January as a research preview, and will be made available via its developer application programming interface, anonymous sources told Bloomberg today. It will be able to do things like writing software and booking flights, according to the instructions of its users, the sources said.

The launch of Operator suggests that OpenAI is eager to jump into the broader trend towards so-called “agentic AI”, which refers to AI software that can complete multi-step tasks with minimal supervision by humans. AI agents are autonomous systems that operate more like a personal assistant than traditional chatbots, and they have become one of the hottest trends in the tech industry today.

Andy Thurai, vice president and principal analyst of Constellation Research Inc., said earlier this month during an interview on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming platform, that AI agents differ from traditional chatbots because they’re able to handle “probabilistic decision-making,” which allows them to adapt and learn from multiple outcomes in real time.

“This dynamic ability allows agents to go beyond simple automation and start acting as collaborators in workflows,” Thurai explained.

For instance, instead of simply helping a travel research various hotels, an AI agent can go further and actually book a room on their behalf, according to their stated preferences. Simply tell the agent you need two beds and a jacuzzi, and it will find a suitable room and make a reservation, and even pay using your credit card, if authorized to do so.

OpenAI is far from alone in pursuing this trend. Earlier this month, rival AI company Anthropic PBC announced new AI agent capabilities for workers that can automate the creation of websites and edit spreadsheets, for example. Meanwhile, Google LLC has announced various developer tools that enable companies to create their own AI agents, customized for specific tasks, using its Gemini large language models.

Other companies have also emerged at the forefront of agentic AI. Salesforce Inc. has announced a series of AI agents, including a customer service agent that can resolve customer’s problems automatically without any human involvement, and a sales representative that can engage with prospective leads on behalf of salespeople. ServiceNow Inc. has announced its family of Now Assist AI agents, Cisco Systems Inc. has rolled out customer service agents for Webex, and the startup Kolena Inc. recently announced an AI agent that’s focused on cleaning data to enhance the training and quality of other AI models.

OpenAI therefore finds itself in the unusual position of being late to market in terms of agentic AI, and it has reportedly been working on a number of AI agents to try and catch up. However, Operator, which executes tasks in a web browser, is the only one for which details are available.

Last month, during an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit, OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman discussed the company’s shift to AI agents, saying that although the company will continue to develop “bigger and better models,” its “next giant breakthrough will be agents.”

OpenAI probably feels pressured to try a different tack, as reports elsewhere suggest that it and its rivals are struggling to generate returns on their costly investments in ever more advanced AI models.

The report came on the same day that OpenAI released a draft of its AI policy paper, which contains various suggestions for the U.S. government’s AI strategy. Among other things, OpenAI has proposed the creation of “AI-focused economic zones” by the federal government, and the establishment of a bloc of allies, in order to compete with China better.

The company’s proposals also called for more energy generation facilities to power AI. It argues that the U.S. should prioritize the construction of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar farms, as well as nuclear power.

Here’s Thurai’s full interview to learn more about AI agents and their potential impact on society:

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