If you’ve been following the evolution of ChatGPT, you’ll know that OpenAI hasn’t been sitting still. With every iteration, it’s getting more helpful, more flexible, and—dare we say—more human in how it supports your workflow. Enter Agent Mode.
What Is Agent Mode?
Agent Mode is a major new feature introduced by OpenAI in 2024 that turns ChatGPT from a mere conversational assistant into a task-oriented AI agent. Instead of just responding to queries, it can now take actions on your behalf—such as browsing the web, running code, calling APIs, and interacting with tools or apps in a goal-driven way.
Think of it as giving ChatGPT a job and letting it get on with it.
When Was It Introduced?
OpenAI started previewing Agent Mode in late 2024, with a gradual rollout in early 2025 for select users and developers. It was designed as a major leap forward from the previous “tool use” functionality (like browsing and code interpreter), aiming to move beyond reactive assistance and into autonomous problem-solving.
How Does It Work?
Agent Mode relies on a few key components:
- Goals: Instead of issuing a single instruction, you can give ChatGPT a broader goal (e.g., “Help me plan a week-long trip to Spain on a budget of £1,000” — Well, gallivanting about with pocket lint and optimism isn’t exactly the wisest move these days, eh?).
- Autonomy: The agent decides how to approach the task. It may research, compare options, run calculations, and iterate through subtasks—all internally and often without additional prompting.
- Memory and Tool Use: It can pull in your saved preferences (if memory is enabled), use built-in tools (like code interpreter or web browsing), and even interact with external tools via API if integrated.
- Multi-Step Reasoning: Agent Mode allows ChatGPT to think through steps, assess progress, retry approaches if needed, and report back a summary of what it did. This makes it much closer to how a human assistant might operate when handling a complex project.
What’s the Difference from Regular ChatGPT?
In standard chat, you issue a prompt, and ChatGPT responds. It doesn’t take initiative. In Agent Mode, however, the assistant becomes proactive. It plans, executes, and adapts its strategy as needed, giving you not just an answer, but a process.
You’ll still see what it’s doing, of course—transparency and control are baked into the design.
Is Agent Mode Available to Everyone?
As of mid-2025, Agent Mode is still being rolled out in stages. It’s available to selected users, developers, and enterprise customers, particularly those building custom GPTs or integrating the functionality into products via OpenAI’s API.
OpenAI has indicated that broader availability will follow once the system proves robust and secure at scale.
What About Safety?
OpenAI has taken safety and alignment seriously with Agent Mode. Agents are sandboxed, meaning they can only operate within defined limits, and developers must explicitly authorise what they’re allowed to do. There’s also oversight and the ability to inspect or audit their behaviour.
Expect a permissions system, user controls, and usage logging to be part of the package.
What Can You Use It For?
Some early use cases include:
- Automating research (e.g., comparing products, summarising trends)
- Managing tasks (e.g., booking events, creating itineraries)
- Customer support workflows
- Data wrangling and analytics
- Connecting with APIs and running business logic (e.g., ordering supplies)
Basically, any digital task that follows logic, rules, or steps can potentially be delegated to an agent.
In Sum…
Agent Mode represents a fundamental shift—from assistant to autonomous agent. For businesses, developers, and power users, this could be a game-changer. Rather than telling ChatGPT what to do at every step, you can simply tell it what you want—and let it work out the rest.
Welcome to the era of intelligent delegation.