OpenAI Unveils ChatGPT 'Agent Mode' for Premium Users, Eyeing Digital Assistant Ambitions

October 31, 2025

Details

  • OpenAI rolled out Agent Mode on October 31, 2025, offering ChatGPT new powers to execute web-based tasks for users.
  • This feature is now available in preview to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Business subscribers, marking a phased launch ahead of broader adoption.
  • With Agent Mode enabled, ChatGPT can research topics, draft plans, summarize information, and take follow-up actions as users keep browsing.
  • The launch expands on OpenAI’s Tools and Actions APIs, adding autonomous sequencing and prompts for permissions to prevent unauthorized actions.
  • Initial documentation highlights granular user control: every visit to an external site, form completion, or data retrieval requires the user’s explicit approval.
  • OpenAI’s preview aims to collect feedback on safety, speed, and user experience before a full launch projected for early 2026.
  • Enterprise administrators can toggle Agent Mode at the workspace level, providing compliance tools for regulated industries.
  • This release follows a year of custom GPT bots, positioning ChatGPT as a dynamic digital assistant rather than simply a conversational chatbot.

Impact

The debut of Agent Mode positions OpenAI squarely against Google’s Project Astra, Anthropic’s CoPilot, and Microsoft’s Copilot, as it brings autonomous agent actions to a massive user base. By enabling ChatGPT to manage complex research and planning automatically, OpenAI aims to deepen user engagement and retain subscribers in a competitive AI landscape. With enterprise controls and an emphasis on safety, the launch may accelerate enterprise adoption and pave the way for a new ecosystem of third-party plugins.

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