New task feature: ChatGPT is set to become a bit of a digital assistant

OpenAI's ChatGPT is getting a new feature for task planning and reminders. The feature is initially only available for subscribers who have booked one of the Plus, Team or Pro payment models. Users must select “ChatGPT-4o with scheduled tasks” in the model selection in the web version and can then formulate tasks in the chat. ChatGPT is apparently intended to take a step towards becoming a digital assistant.

The feature is still marked as beta. In the web view, tasks are created in an overview tab in the left-hand column and can be managed there. According to US reports, ChatGPT will use its task function to set reminders at certain times or perform tasks such as browsing the web. The chatbot can also suggest creating a task itself. For example, ChatGPT could be instructed to summarize the weather report every day or to check once a month whether event tickets are already for sale on a website. However, making the purchase itself is not planned as a capability.

AI agents planned?

This could be reserved for a further release of OpenAI, which Bloomberg reports on, citing insiders. An AI agent with the code name “Operator”, which can use a computer to carry out actions on behalf of a person, is to be launched on the market. For example, writing code or booking trips and tickets. The tool is to be released in January as a research preview and via the company's programming interface for developers. Another interesting question is whether such agent AI will help Openai to better monetize its own technology. The subscription business with the Chatgpt models has so far been rather loss-making.

When we first tried it out with instructions in German, the AI bot sometimes responded with error messages. Reminders were created and only sent out at the desired time as an email to the address linked to the subscription account. It was apparently not yet possible for the AI bot to become active with a chat message or interact with external applications such as a browser or calendar within the new function. The feature still looks a little rough at the moment.

According to a report by Ars Technica, OpenAI wants to use the beta phase to find out more about how the task feature is used by users. Later, the function should also be available in the mobile app and the free version of ChatGPT.

(axk)