In recent weeks, Agentic AI has taken center stage in our AI-related discussions. This concept has gained even more relevance with OpenAI's introduction of its first Agentic AI, called “Operator.” Operator is a groundbreaking agent capable of performing tasks on the web independently. Using its built-in browser, it can navigate websites, interact with content by typing, clicking, and scrolling, executing tasks as directed.
Currently available as a research preview, Operator has some limitations and is designed to evolve through user feedback. It represents an exciting step forward in AI capabilities, enabling systems to perform tasks autonomously with minimal input—marking a significant milestone in the development of Agentic AI.

How It Works
OpenAI reports Operator’s capabilities as being designed to “handle a wide variety of repetitive browser tasks such as filling out forms, ordering groceries, and even creating memes. ” (OpenAI, 2024). By utilizing the same interfaces and tools that humans interact with daily, such as your internet browser, Operator expands upon Chat GPT’s prior applications of AI.
Unlike other iterations of ChatGPT and OpenAI products, which were solely generative and required users to guide every action, Operator introduces the potential for AI to complete tasks within a framework rather than relying on prompt-by-prompt instructions.
What sets Operator apart from traditional Agentic AI solutions—which often require programmers to code within rigid frameworks—is its ability to “‘see’ (through screenshots) and ‘interact’ (using all the actions a mouse and keyboard allow) with a browser, enabling it to take action on the web without requiring custom API integrations.” (OpenAI, 2024).
Its decision-making process is fully transparent, with a detailed step-by-step rationale displayed to the user in real-time. When Operator encounters challenges or makes errors, it utilizes its advanced reasoning capabilities to identify and resolve the issue on its own. If it reaches a point where assistance is required, it smoothly transitions control back to the user, fostering a seamless and collaborative interaction that prioritizes ease of use.
Current Use Cases
Operator’s current use cases are primarily focused on personal tasks such as grocery shopping, making reservations, staying updated with news, and more. Users can select a website from a list provided by OpenAI and begin engaging with it seamlessly. For example, OpenAI demonstrates how the Agent can use Instacart to perform a series of tasks: (i) find a recipe on AllRecipes.com, (ii) purchase the required ingredients on Instacart, and (iii) exclude ingredients the user has already specified they own.
Moreover, for each website integrated with the tool, users can provide personalized instructions to tailor its actions. For instance, with Priceline.com, users can set preferences such as booking only hotels that offer “free breakfast and fully refundable rooms.” With this customization, the Agent ensures all recommendations align with user preferences, making tasks like trip planning significantly easier and more efficient.
What It Means
Currently available exclusively to Pro users during its initial Research Preview phase, Operator introduces an exciting vision for the future of Agentic AI. By eliminating barriers such as the need for programming expertise and the cost of API integrations, it opens up new possibilities for how individuals and businesses can harness AI to streamline tasks and enhance productivity.
As Operator evolves based on user feedback, we anticipate its integration with a broader range of websites will expand. This growth could empower executive coaches, business leaders, and CEOs to leverage Operator as a powerful "back-pocket assistant," helping them operate more efficiently and strategically.
By extending its utility beyond personal use, Operator has the potential to transform business workflows by accelerating task completion, simplifying adoption through seamless compatibility with existing systems, and offering early adopters a distinct advantage as industry pioneers.
As Operator advances, we aim to harness its potential to benefit both executive coaches and the industry as a whole. By applying Operator to key foundational use cases, we can enhance our ability to support clients more effectively than ever before. Foundational examples of leveraging Operator we hope to see in the future could include:
Market Monitoring: Track competitor activities or industry trends by scanning relevant websites and news platforms, as well as identify growth opportunities by analyzing customer feedback or market data.
Research Assistance: Gather and summarize information on clients’ industries, competitors, or market trends, and prepare detailed client insights and performance metrics for coaching sessions.
Strategic Research: Use Operator to analyze new markets, potential partnerships, or acquisitions, and collect and summarize key reports on industry trends, policy changes, or regulatory updates.
Operational Efficiency: Delegate routine decision-making tasks like reordering supplies, renewing subscriptions, or managing admin-related communications. Furthermore, leverage Operator to review performance dashboards and flag anomalies or trends for further analysis.
Streamlined Administrative Tasks: Automate routine tasks like scheduling appointments, completing forms, or managing CRM data, allowing coaches to focus more on delivering value to clients rather than spending time on operational logistics.
Decision Support: With its reasoning capabilities, Operator could assist leaders in analyzing data, generating insights, and even drafting communications or proposals, enabling faster and more informed decisions, especially for leaders managing dynamic and complex environments.
The Main Takeaway
Although Operator's current applications focus primarily on personal tasks, it's essential for executive coaches to stay informed about tools like this as they could significantly impact professional contexts in the future. By understanding and anticipating the potential of Agentic AI, coaches can position themselves as early adopters and innovators, ready to leverage these technologies as they evolve toward more professional and business-focused use cases.
Operator’s ability to automate repetitive tasks, perform complex decision-making, and integrate seamlessly into existing workflows has clear implications for the coaching industry. For executive coaches, staying abreast of these developments means being prepared to harness similar tools to enhance client engagement, improve operational efficiency, and provide data-driven insights.
In essence, remaining informed about advancements like Operator ensures that executive coaches can proactively adapt to technological shifts, unlocking new opportunities to drive growth for themselves, their clients, and the broader coaching industry.
DeepSeek-R1: Advancing NLP and Disrupting AI Innovation
DeepSeek is an AI research initiative dedicated to redefining natural language processing (NLP) to elevate AI's ability to interpret and generate text with human-like depth and precision. By delving into the intricacies of context, nuance, and subtlety in communication, DeepSeek seeks to transform applications such as conversational AI, automated content generation, and tailored user experiences. Its mission is to push the limits of AI's capacity to emulate and complement human cognition, fostering more intuitive and accessible AI systems.
This week, DeepSeek introduced DeepSeek-R1, a groundbreaking reasoning-focused AI model that has made waves across the AI community. Delivering exceptional performance on multiple benchmarks, DeepSeek-R1 was developed at a fraction of the usual cost and resource expenditure. Reports highlight that “DeepSeek’s API costs are over 90% lower than the comparable o1 model from OpenAI” (Franzen, 2025). This achievement not only challenges industry leaders such as OpenAI and Google but also underscores the feasibility of producing advanced AI under tight resource constraints, raising questions about the effectiveness of U.S. semiconductor export restrictions.
Renowned for its commitment to advancing NLP, DeepSeek is revolutionizing AI's ability to grasp the complexities of human communication. These innovations open doors to transformative developments in conversational AI, automated content creation, and personalized experiences, advancing AI's broader potential to enhance and replicate human cognitive processes.
References
Franzen, C. (2025, January 24). Why everyone in AI is freaking out about DeepSeek. VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/ai/why-everyone-in-ai-is-freaking-out-about-deepseek/
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