What is ChatGPT Agent?
ChatGPT Agent is a feature on OpenAI’s generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) model, designed to help you with various online tasks on its own computer.
It was introduced in July as a major update to the popular AI chatbot, making ChatGPT not only think and speak but also act.
Imagine having a secretary or personal assistant who is working from home and available 24/7.
What can ChatGPT Agent do?
ChatGPT Agent is equipped with a range of skills allowing it to handle complex tasks from start to finish. This includes:
- working with uploaded files
- connecting to third-party apps, including email, calendar and cloud drives
- filling out forms
- creating and editing spreadsheets, charts and slide presentations
- visual browser for interacting with websites
- code interpreter and terminal for executing commands
According to OpenAI, tasks usually complete within 5-30 minutes, depending on the level of complexity.
There are endless ways how you can benefit from the feature, from simple commands to more advanced ones.
The general rule is the more details you include in your prompt, the more likely you will be happy with the result.
Examples of what to say to the agent are:
- “Look at my emails and summarise the most important messages of the day.”
- “Plan and buy ingredients to make a four-course Christmas dinner for a family of five.”
- “Analyse the environmental impact of fast fashion vs. slow fashion and create a slide presentation.”
- “My friends are getting married in Greece this autumn. Can you help me find an affordable matching outfit?”
- “I want to take a five-day trip to Prague in December. When is the cheapest time to fly? Check accommodation prices and availability.”
The AI model completes given tasks using its own virtual computer, on which it can access the internet through two different browsers:
- Text browser allows the agent to quickly read a lot of websites and gather relevant data
- Visual browser lets the agent interact with the user interface of a web page, including actions like dragging, clicking or filling out forms
For routine tasks, you can set them to repeat automatically on a daily, weekly or monthly basis by clicking the Clock icon.
How to use ChatGPT Agent?
ChatGPT Agent is available on the web and mobile apps for both iOS and Android.
It is fully integrated into the main model and can be accessed simply through the chat window.
You can either select the option from the tools menu or type /agent in the prompt box to activate it.
Like ChatGPT, the agent mode supports natural conversation, so you can simply describe the task you want completed, and the bot will start working on it.
If it needs some clarification or confirmation, the agent will pause and ask you.
For those who are somewhat familiar with AI language models, using ChatGPT Agent should be a piece of cake.
However, the whole process is very intuitive and does not require any special skills or experience.
Is ChatGPT Agent free to use?
ChatGPT Agent is currently available on Pro, Plus, Business, Enterprise and Edu subscription plans only.
However, like with many other AI features in the past, we may expect a free version being released at some point in the future.
How much does ChatGPT Agent cost in the UK?
The cheapest option at the moment is paying for ChatGPT Plus plan, which costs £20 a month and allows you to use the agent for 40 tasks a month.
Along with that, you will also get extended access to OpenAI’s most advanced model GPT-5, extended limits on file uploads and image generation, as well as limited access to Sora video generation.
For the highest level of access, you can subscribe to ChatGPT Pro, which runs for £200 a month and gives you ten times more agent prompts.
It also comes with unlimited access to GPT-5 and extended access to Sora.
Is ChatGPT Agent safe?
While the feature is generally safe to use, it creates potential privacy risks.
Depending on what you use it for, ChatGPT Agent may get access to your emails, files and personal information.
One highlighted concern is ‘prompt injection’, where attackers trick LLMs into leaking data or spreading misinformation.
To prevent harmful or unwanted outcomes, ChatGPT Agent will require your supervision or confirmation for certain actions.
For instance, if the task requires a login, you will be ask to take over and input the details yourself without the agent taking part.
Nevertheless, OpenAI stresses that “it remains important to monitor ChatGPT agent and exercise care when using it”.
For example, you should disable unnecessary connectors, avoid sensitive logins and always log out when done.
