OpenAI has launched a new feature called Tasks for its ChatGPT AI. This feature allows users to schedule recurring tasks for ChatGPT to carry out automatically in the future.
Tasks in ChatGPT
Small steps towards more agentic behaviors…
via @rowancheung
— Linus Ekenstam (@LinusEkenstam) January 14, 2025
With Tasks, users can prompt ChatGPT once to handle things like sending daily reminders, generating emails or briefs, checking stock prices, or presenting information from the web at set times.
ChatGPT can now take care of these tasks on a schedule without needing to be asked each time. To use the Tasks feature, users select “Go with scheduled tasks” from the model picker in ChatGPT. They then enter a prompt detailing what they want done and the schedule for it.
ChatGPT is looking to compete against the AI assistants and actually help you get organized. Can it compete? https://t.co/MX7ghlplRA
— John Legere (@JohnLegere) January 16, 2025
Tasks can be managed later from a “tasks” section in the profile menu. OpenAI is rolling out Tasks in beta first to Plus, Team, and Pro subscribers.
Tasks feature for autonomous scheduling
🚨 New Update: ChatGPT Tasks
It's a new feature that lets you schedule reminders.
Like:
• Getting your daily weather report every morning.
• Reminders to drink water every few hours.
• Weekly check-ins on your goals.Works across web, desktop, and mobile.
You can run 10… pic.twitter.com/79piEW169U
— Aadit Sheth (@aaditsh) January 16, 2025
During the beta, users are limited to 10 Tasks per day. The company plans to gather feedback and improve the feature before making it available to all users. This marks the first time OpenAI has released a feature letting users experiment with an AI agent that can autonomously carry out actions without being prompted each time.
While it’s a small step, it shows OpenAI starting to explore the concept of agentic AI, which is expected to be a major trend in 2025. Some see Tasks as OpenAI’s attempt to make ChatGPT more like a traditional digital assistant akin to Alexa or Siri, but with more advanced language abilities. OpenAI also has plans for an “Operator” AI agent that could independently control computers and something called “Caterpillar” that may allow ChatGPT to search for info, analyze data, navigate websites, and access documents.
Putting these agent-like features behind a paywall could be a way for OpenAI to monetize its expensive AI systems. But it remains to be seen if Tasks and future additions will prove reliable, as past OpenAI agent demos produced inaccurate information. The coming months will show if the company has overcome these challenges.
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