ChatGPT Agent Doesn’t Cut It – Above Avalon
Hello everyone. Happy Tuesday.
Today’s update may make some people deep in AI mania a little bit uncomfortable as it has to do with signs of trouble on the horizon. The latest example is found with OpenAI and AI agents. Let’s discuss.
ChatGPT Agent Doesn’t Cut It
Last week, OpenAI unveiled a general purpose AI agent.
“OpenAI is launching a new general purpose AI agent in ChatGPT, which the company says can complete a wide variety of computer-based tasks on behalf of users. OpenAI says the agent can automatically navigate a user’s calendar, generate editable presentations and slideshows, and run code.
The tool, called ChatGPT agent, combines several capabilities from OpenAI’s previous agentic tools, including Operator’s ability to click around on websites, as well as Deep Research’s ability to synthesize information from dozens of websites into a concise research report. OpenAI says users will be able to interact with the agent simply by prompting ChatGPT in natural language.
ChatGPT agent is rolling out on Thursday to subscribers to OpenAI’s Pro, Plus, and Team plans…
The launch of ChatGPT agent represents OpenAI’s boldest attempt yet to turn ChatGPT into an agentic product that can take actions and offload tasks for users, rather than just answering questions. In recent years, Silicon Valley companies including OpenAI, Google, and Perplexity have unveiled dozens of AI agents that have promised to do just that. However, these early version AI agents have proven to struggle with complex tasks, and they seem less compelling as products than the ultimate vision tech executives pitch around AI agents.”
OpenAI told The Verge that agent is a result of the Operator and Deep Research teams being combined to produce a team of approximately two to three dozen people.
The basic idea on display here isn’t exactly new. Every prior attempt to figure out agents has led to dead ends, forgotten promises, and an overall yawn.
Not to bury the lede: This agent unveiling and launch was not good enough.
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