OpenAI announced a new beta feature for ChatGPT called Tasks on Tuesday. Tasks allows users to schedule actions for ChatGPT to perform in the future. With Tasks, ChatGPT can handle one-time or recurring activities.
Tasks in ChatGPT
Small steps towards more agentic behaviors…
via @rowancheung
— Linus Ekenstam (@LinusEkenstam) January 14, 2025
Users can request daily weather updates, weekly news briefings, or even reminders for when concert tickets go on sale. To use Tasks, ChatGPT Plus, Teams, and Pro users can select “go with scheduled tasks” from the dropdown menu. When a user sends a message in this mode, ChatGPT automatically generates a task.
This new AI assistant might be the best one I've seen yet.
It automatically creates a database of ~100 docs about you based on your inbox so it can manage your email for you.
Here’s how to try free: pic.twitter.com/iMaxJr65i6
— Alvaro Cintas (@dr_cintas) January 14, 2025
These tasks can be managed through the user’s profile dropdown menu. ChatGPT can also suggest tasks based on user interactions. Users have the option to approve or reject these suggested tasks.
New ChatGPT web app changes
– More mentions of ChatGPT Operator (codename "VZA493Q")
– New options for code snippets to "Edit in canvas"
– New notification for "inline feedback custom instructions" pic.twitter.com/ctlTom9SNx— Tibor Blaho (@btibor91) January 14, 2025
Notifications for scheduled tasks are sent as push notifications. They appear on browsers or macOS systems for desktop users.
New ChatGPT feature launch
Mobile users receive notifications through the ChatGPT mobile app. Examples of tasks include “Start my day with daily affirmations at 7 a.m.” or “Send me a knock-knock joke to tell my kids before bed every night at 6 p.m.”
The beta version of Tasks is rolling out globally starting today. It will be available to Plus, Team, and Pro users across all platforms.
However, the task manager will initially only be accessible through the web app. This new feature marks OpenAI’s entry into the realm of agentic AI. It allows ChatGPT to perform actions without needing step-by-step instructions from users.
Tasks integrate functionalities similar to Google Alerts, personal calendars, and ChatGPT’s existing abilities. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized the company’s ambition to transform ChatGPT into an ‘everything app’ during the 2024 Dev Day. He highlighted that “2025 is when agents will work,” signaling a significant leap from current AI capabilities toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
The introduction of Tasks is a key phase in OpenAI’s roadmap to achieving AGI. It represents a step toward intelligence that is comparable to or surpasses human levels.
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