Microsoft has been preparing the launch of its Recall feature for months, but its subsidiary OpenAI might be beating them to the punch with “Operator.” According to unnamed sources, Operator can perform actions on a user’s behalf, such as writing code or booking a trip.
Cruise Operator
One of the sources, present at an OpenAI staff meeting, told Bloomberg that OpenAI leadership announced plans to release Operator sometime in January, both as a research preview and through its programming interface for developers. OpenAI has yet to make a public statement.
It’s no surprise that OpenAI is throwing its hat into the AI agent ring. Anthropic’s newest Claude update launched with new automated click, scroll, and type features. According to The Information, Google also has an AI agent in the works.
OpenAI’s parent company Microsoft has been promising its controversial Recall feature for months, While it’s still ironing out the kinks of its security protocols, it has already begun deployment of AI agents to assist employees with sales, customer support, and accounting. Microsoft likens these agents to smartphone apps for the AI age.
According to Jared Spataro, supervisor of Microsoft’s workplace AI products, “We have just found places where people spend tons of time and tons of money”. He continues, “They tend to be tasks and processes that they wish they didn’t have to do, but they have to do over and over again. There’s high yield if we can essentially automate that.” It’s an interesting concept, one that may prove highly lucrative if these AI agents can show demonstrable real-world utility.
OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman hinted at Operator in a Reddit Ask Me Anything. “I think the thing that will feel like the next giant breakthrough will be agents.” The partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI continues to bode well for the two companies, the latter can enjoy a longer innovation leash with its parent’s budget, with Microsoft keeping itself competitive against slow competitors in the AI space.
