What is ChatGPT Agent? Overview of New Features and Use Cases
In July 2025, OpenAI announced a major upgrade to its chatbot service, "ChatGPT," introducing a new feature called "ChatGPT Agent" that transforms the traditional conversational AI into a personal assistant. This system does not just answer questions in a chat; it performs actual tasks on behalf of the user [990857027918375†L74-L86]. The agent has its own dedicated virtual computer, allowing it to browse the web, fill out forms, execute code, and automatically generate spreadsheets and presentation materials [990857027918375†L74-L86]. Unlike traditional chatbots, its defining feature is the ability to actually complete multi-step tasks [990857027918375†L88-L97].
Key Features
Schedule Management and Planning – It can check your calendar to summarize appointments and find restaurant reservations via services like OpenTable based on your free time [990857027918375†L109-L113].
Online Research and Report Creation – It gathers information on the web and automatically compiles reports such as trend analyses and comparative studies [990857027918375†L114-L117].
Shopping and Ordering – It can search for products, compare items that meet your criteria, and place orders after obtaining the user's approval [990857027918375†L118-L124].
Office Tasks – It can generate Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint slide decks from prompts, as well as update data and format screenshots [990857027918375†L125-L133].
Developer Tools and API Connections – Internally, it has terminal and API access permissions, allowing it to execute code, integrate with external services, and retrieve information through connectors like Gmail or GitHub [990857027918375†L135-L142].
Behind the agent, separate from the traditional GPT-4, a practical model trained via reinforcement learning is used to handle complex tasks. OpenAI has integrated two experimental tools—"Operator," specialized for web operations, and "Deep Research," specialized for information analysis—into a single agent [990857027918375†L155-L166]. This agent uses multiple tools depending on the purpose. For example, it utilizes a visual browser to operate websites like a human, a text browser to quickly retrieve text, a terminal to perform code and file operations, APIs to access external services directly, and connectors to link to user accounts such as email or GitHub [990857027918375†L168-L183].
Given its advanced capabilities, security and safety are also prioritized. When the agent performs critical operations such as making reservations or purchases, explicit user approval is always required [990857027918375†L217-L223]. It is designed to reject high-risk content, such as biological or chemical-related queries, and a content classifier constantly monitors prompts [990857027918375†L224-L232]. Additionally, long-term memory is disabled in agent mode to prevent past conversation content from being misused [990857027918375†L243-L247]. Users can pause the process during task execution or change instructions midway, ensuring they always remain in control of the work [990857027918375†L197-L206].
ChatGPT Agent is a groundbreaking feature that goes beyond the scope of chat AI to perform actual work on your behalf. Because it automatically handles diverse tasks ranging from schedule management and online shopping to full-scale document creation, it has the potential to significantly increase individual productivity. At the same time, guardrails such as user verification and safety measures are in place, allowing for secure use. As further feature expansions and support for Japanese environments progress, the use of AI in daily life and business scenarios will likely become more common.
This was created by ChatGPT Agent