OpenAI launches AI-driven personal assistants through web browsing and file controls
OpenAI has launched a powerful new AI Assistant feature for ChatGpt, which enables users to delegate daily tasks such as browsing the web, making restaurant reservations and online shopping, marking a significant leap in AI’s ability to act, not just analytics.
The new ChatGPT proxy is available this week for users of paid “Pro”, “Plus” and “Teams” programs, giving chatbots autonomy to interact with files, browsers, calendars, and software such as spreadsheets and presentations. However, it will not be launched in the EU at this time, and the company has admitted that enhanced features pose higher risks.
“Models not only think, but act,” Openai said in a blog post that announced the update.
The launch follows similar moves from Google and Anthropic, as AI companies compete to release “agents” – systems capable of handling multi-step computer tasks with limited human supervision. These assistants can do everything from planning a trip to organizing documents or conducting online research and are designed to switch between systems to get the job done efficiently.
Despite the promise of more convenience by the new assistant, Openai is always transparent about the potential dangers of granting active control of AI models. The company confirms that the agent will always seek user permission before taking any irreversible or corresponding measures, such as making a purchase or deletion of files.
“You’ve been in control,” the company said. “ChatGpt requests permission before taking consequence actions, and you can easily interrupt, take over your browser, or stop tasks at any time.”
As part of its security strategy, OpenAI introduced guardrails to prevent abuse, including malicious hints hidden on the website and suspicious instructions such as bank transfers. The system is also trained to reject tasks that could lead to security breaches or biohazard creation, although there is currently no evidence that the model can facilitate such harm.
In a live demonstration, AI is asked to scan users’ Google Calendar for free nights, search for restaurants with a rating of 4.3 stars or higher in several cuisines, and return to options – all within 10 to 15 minutes. Users can pause, redirect, or clarify instructions in tasks in instructions to reflect the human assistant’s experience.
Although the tool is targeted at productivity and convenience, it has also sparked speculation about commercial applications, such as getting commissions through retail advice or checkout links.
Openai CEO Sam Altman has previously proposed the idea of charging a 2% fee for transactions generated through the company’s “deep research” service.
However, Openai said the current assistants do not include advertising, sponsored internships or paid product advice, nor do they introduce plans.
Independent analysts raise concerns about how AI assistants prioritize their performance in the future. Niamh Burns, senior media analyst at Enders Analysis, said:
“It’s easy to say that the system requires your approval before you buy it, but what is the process of finding the product? Can the brand pay for the visibility of the results?”
As AI companies want to profit and differentiate their services, the pressure continues to balance utilities, ethics, and trust.
ChatGpt agents are currently only available to subscribers to OpenAI paid plans, positioning them as an advanced productivity tool for professionals, teams and power users.
Its release marks a shift in AI development, from reactive models that provide information to proactive assistants who can autonomously complete real-world tasks.
But as OpenAI pushes boundaries, it also opens the door to greater regulatory scrutiny and the need for clear user transparency. An AI assistant may be able to do more things soon, not just an email, it may also make a decision on your behalf.
Currently, the news from OpenAI is clear: users are kept in control. But as agents become more capable, the world will observe how they are used and ultimately benefit.
