OpenAI Operator
by OpenAI
OpenAI's browser-automation agent, now folded into ChatGPT Agent
Last reviewed 2026-06-18
Operator was OpenAI's browser-automation agent, launched as a research preview in January 2025. It was powered by a Computer-Using Agent (CUA) model that combined GPT-4o vision with reinforcement-learning-trained reasoning to operate graphical user interfaces, letting it perform tasks on the web like filling forms, navigating sites, and attempting purchases on the user's behalf, with the user taking over for logins and sensitive steps. Operator is deprecated. In July 2025 OpenAI folded its capabilities into ChatGPT Agent (agent mode in ChatGPT) and sunset the standalone operator.chatgpt.com site, and the standalone product was reported shut down by August 31, 2025 after struggling with complex JavaScript flows, CAPTCHAs, and session management. The underlying CUA technology lives on in newer OpenAI products. This entry documents Operator for historical and comparison purposes.
What it can do
Operate web browsers via the CUA model
SupervisedUsed a Computer-Using Agent model (GPT-4o vision plus RL-trained reasoning) to interact with graphical user interfaces and perform web tasks.
sourceComplete tasks on a user's behalf
SupervisedNavigated sites, filled forms, and attempted actions like purchases, handing control back to the user for logins and sensitive steps.
source
Strengths
- +Pioneered OpenAI's browser-using agent via the CUA model
- +Could take over real web tasks with human handoff for sensitive steps
Limitations
- −Deprecated: standalone product shut down in 2025 and folded into ChatGPT Agent
- −Struggled with complex JavaScript flows, CAPTCHAs, and session management
- −Required user oversight and frequent handoffs
Overview
Operator was OpenAI's browser-automation agent, launched as a research preview in January 2025 and powered by a Computer-Using Agent (CUA) model. This entry documents it for historical and comparison purposes; the product is deprecated.
What it did
Using GPT-4o vision plus RL-trained reasoning, Operator interacted with graphical user interfaces to perform web tasks: navigating sites, filling forms, and attempting purchases on the user's behalf, handing control back for logins and sensitive steps.
Status
Operator is deprecated. In July 2025 OpenAI folded its capabilities into ChatGPT Agent and sunset the standalone operator.chatgpt.com site; reporting indicates the standalone product was shut down by August 31, 2025 after struggling with complex JavaScript flows, CAPTCHAs, and session management. The underlying CUA technology continues in newer OpenAI products.
Pricing
Was bundled with ChatGPT Pro; the standalone offering is discontinued.
Best for / not for
No longer a fit for new adoption. Users wanting OpenAI's browser-using agent should use ChatGPT Agent.
Alternatives
ChatGPT Agent is the successor; Manus and Genspark are general agentic assistants; Gemini offers agentic browsing.
What people are saying
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FAQ
Is OpenAI Operator still available?+
No. Operator was folded into ChatGPT Agent (agent mode in ChatGPT) in July 2025, the standalone site was sunset, and the standalone product was reported shut down by August 31, 2025. Use ChatGPT Agent instead.
What was the CUA model?+
The Computer-Using Agent model powered Operator, combining GPT-4o's vision with reinforcement-learning-trained reasoning to operate graphical user interfaces. The CUA technology continues in newer OpenAI products.
Sources
- Introducing Operator (OpenAI) · accessed 2026-06-18
- Computer-Using Agent (OpenAI) · accessed 2026-06-18
- OpenAI launches Operator, an AI agent that performs tasks autonomously (TechCrunch) · accessed 2026-06-18
Last reviewed 2026-06-18