OpenAI has unveiled its latest AI agent, Operator, as part of a research preview. Announced on Thursday, the tool promises to bring advanced multi-modal capabilities to users. However, despite its impressive potential, the launch hasn’t been entirely smooth, with users raising concerns about performance and accessibility.
What is Operator?
Operator is OpenAI’s Computer Using Agent (CUA) built on the GPT-4o model. This cutting-edge AI tool is designed to handle complex tasks, such as web searches and understanding the reasoning behind search results. In a demo showcasing Operator’s features, OpenAI highlighted its ability to seamlessly combine different functionalities, making it an exciting development in artificial intelligence.
However, user feedback has tempered the excitement. Early testers have reported slower response times compared to the demo and issues with “hallucinations,” where the AI generates inaccurate or nonsensical information. These problems mirror similar concerns users have raised about ChatGPT in the past.
Early complaints and OpenAI’s response
The issues surrounding Operator’s launch have sparked discussions online. According to Quartz, some users have been disappointed with the tool’s responsiveness and accuracy. One user shared their experience with Operator’s interactions on a news website on X (formerly Twitter), which reportedly led to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responding directly. Altman assured users that the issue would be fixed promptly. However, as Bezingza reported, whether the problem was a legitimate error or another instance of Operator’s hallucination tendencies remains unclear.
While OpenAI is working to address these teething problems, another significant barrier for users is the high cost of accessing Operator. It is available only to subscribers of OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pro tier, which costs US$200 per month. This steep price point has drawn criticism, with many arguing that it makes the tool inaccessible to most users.
Chris Smith, a writer for BGR, noted that despite being a ChatGPT Plus subscriber, he could not justify Operator’s US$200 monthly fee. OpenAI has hinted that the tool will eventually be available to users on ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise tiers, but no timeline has been provided.
Limited availability and safety concerns
Another frustration for users is that Operator is only available in the United States. European users, in particular, have voiced their disappointment at being excluded from the research preview.
Beyond performance and accessibility issues, Operator has also raised questions about safety. ComputerWorld highlighted potential risks associated with AI agents like Operator. These tools could be used to launch traffic attacks or bypass CAPTCHA systems. OpenAI has assured users that Operator’s security measures are robust, but researchers have warned that such technology might clash with the data processing strategies of search engines like Google.
Despite these challenges, Operator’s innovative features have drawn significant attention, and many are optimistic that OpenAI will address the current issues. As the technology evolves, users worldwide are eager to see how this new AI agent can shape the future of artificial intelligence.
