OpenAI might soon be dropping its most ambitious tool yet—an AI system reportedly capable of taking over your PC to perform tasks on your behalf. Dubbed “Operator,” this long-rumored tool could be the first real step toward AI that doesn’t just assist, but actually acts.
The buzz comes courtesy of Tibor Blaho, a well-known software engineer who’s built a reputation for leaking AI projects before they’re officially announced. According to Blaho’s findings and previous reports from outlets like Bloomberg, Operator is shaping up to be an “agentic” system—meaning it could autonomously tackle complex tasks like writing code, booking travel, and even navigating websites.
Recent evidence uncovered by Blaho suggests OpenAI is gearing up for a launch, possibly as early as Feb 2025.
Code in OpenAI’s macOS ChatGPT app references shortcuts for toggling and force-quitting Operator. And while OpenAI hasn’t officially commented, hidden mentions of Operator have reportedly been spotted on their website.
So, how smart is this thing? Benchmarks leaked by Blaho suggest Operator’s AI engine, called the “Computer Use Agent” (CUA), is impressive but not yet human-level. For example, in tests designed to mimic real-world computer tasks, CUA outperformed rival models from Anthropic but still lagged behind human scores in certain areas. While Operator excels at navigating websites (beating humans in some cases), it stumbles in basic tasks like setting up cloud servers or creating Bitcoin wallets.
Why the delay? Safety concerns seem to be a big factor. OpenAI has reportedly spent considerable time ensuring Operator won’t misuse sensitive data or engage in unethical activities, a move applauded by many but also criticized by rivals. OpenAI co-founder Wojciech Zaremba recently took a swipe at Anthropic for releasing an agent he claims lacks proper safety measures, saying, “I can only imagine the backlash if OpenAI made a similar release.”
With competition from Anthropic, Google, and others heating up, AI agents like Operator are being positioned as the next big thing. Analysts predict this market could hit $47 billion by 2030.
But how do you feel about an AI that could run parts of your computer for you? Are you ready to let a digital “agent” take the wheel? Drop your thoughts in the comments—and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter for the latest on AI innovations!
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