OpenAI's Operator: Examples, Use Cases, Competition & More

 Source: OpenAI

Let’s break down what each of these three benchmarks does:

• OSWorld (38.1%): Assesses the ability to perform tasks in full operating systems like Ubuntu, Windows, and macOS. Although CUA outperforms previous models, its success rate is still below the human benchmark of 72.4%.
• WebArena (58.1%): Evaluates the performance in navigating simulated websites, including e-commerce and social platforms. While it surpasses prior models, it has room for improvement in handling complex, multi-step interactions.
• WebVoyager (87%): Measures the effectiveness on live websites like Amazon, GitHub, and Google Maps. CUA performs strongly here, as tasks tend to be simpler and more structured compared to WebArena.

The graph below illustrates the performance of OpenAI’s CUA compared to Claude 3.5 Sonnet on the OSWorld benchmark. The x-axis represents the maximum number of steps allowed for task completion, while the y-axis shows the success rate as a percentage. CUA demonstrates steady improvement with more steps allowed, outperforming previous state-of-the-art models.

Source: OpenAI

How to Access Operator

Operator is currently available in the United States as part of a research preview for Pro users of ChatGPT. To access it, you need an active Pro subscription. You can visit operator.chatgpt.com to start using Operator.

​​For now, Operator is limited to Pro users, but OpenAI has plans to expand access to Plus users in the coming months. The rollout strategy allows OpenAI to gather feedback and improve the system before offering it to a wider audience.

While Operator is focused on U.S. users during the initial launch, OpenAI has stated that accessibility in Europe and other regions will take longer due to regulatory challenges. Users in these regions will need to wait for future updates as OpenAI works to navigate these complexities.

Looking ahead, OpenAI also plans to make the underlying technology behind Operator, known as CUA, available through an API. This would enable developers to create their own AI-powered agents for custom applications.

Operator’s Use Cases

The demo examples for Operator—such as booking a table or shopping online—are functional, but to us, they don’t feel particularly practical. It’s often faster and easier to perform these tasks manually rather than spending time monitoring an AI’s execution.

However, Operator’s potential becomes clearer when you think beyond these use cases, focusing on accessibility or institutional support.

Accessibility

One of the most impactful areas where Operator could shine is in accessibility. For individuals with limited computer skills, such as the elderly or those new to technology, Operator could act as a guide, helping them navigate complex online tasks without needing prior expertise.

Imagine if this was combined with voice commands—users wouldn’t even need to type a prompt, making the tool even more intuitive.

Similarly, for individuals with disabilities, like those with visual impairments, Operator could help them interact with websites that might otherwise be inaccessible, especially if paired with audio feedback or screen-reader support.

Institutional support

Operator has strong potential in government and institutional settings. It could assist citizens in filling out complex forms for tasks like applying for visas, filing taxes, or accessing social benefits. This would reduce the reliance on in-person assistance and improve processes for both users and institutions.

In education, Operator could simplify online application systems, scholarship submissions, and research tasks, enabling students or those with limited digital literacy to navigate these processes more effectively.

Small businesses and professional tasks

In the workplace, Operator could be valuable for small businesses by automating repetitive web-based tasks such as managing inventory, processing online orders, or collecting customer feedback. For professionals, it could handle tedious workflows, like gathering information from multiple sources or completing forms, freeing up time for more strategic work.

Healthcare and non-profits

Healthcare and non-profits could benefit significantly from Operator. Clinics could use it to help patients complete online registration forms or access resources without requiring extensive staff involvement.

Non-profits operating in regions with low digital literacy might deploy Operator to help underserved populations navigate essential online systems, ensuring that technological barriers don’t limit access to vital services.

Competition of AI Agents

OpenAI’s Operator enters the space of AI agents alongside Anthropic’s computer-use capabilities and Google’s Project Mariner.

Anthropic’s computer use

Anthropic’s computer use, powered by its Claude 3.5 Sonnet model, allows the AI to interact with desktop environments by simulating human actions like clicking, typing, and navigating. Currently, this feature requires some technical knowledge to set up and use effectively via the API, limiting its accessibility for non-technical users.

In contrast, Operator’s plain-language interface eliminates the need for programming knowledge, making it more user-friendly for a wider audience. However, Anthropic will almost surely work toward simplifying its tools to compete more directly with Operator’s accessible design.

Google’s Project Mariner

Project Mariner, developed by Google’s DeepMind, is an experimental agent designed to navigate and interact with web pages autonomously. While still in its research phase, Mariner is being tested with a small group of users, and its integration within Google’s ecosystem suggests it could excel in workflows involving Gmail, Google Docs, and other Google services.

Conclusion

Operator is OpenAI’s first step into the competitive field of AI agents, offering a unique approach with its plain-language interface and universal browser-based design. While tools like Anthropic’s computer use and Google’s Project Mariner bring their own strengths, Operator’s focus on accessibility sets it apart for now.

We’re also curious about the potential for other players, like DeepSeek or Meta, to join the competition. 2025 might actually live up to its hype and be the year of agentic AI.