What is ChatGPT Agent, and how is it different from regular ChatGPT?

If you have used ChatGPT before, you know the drill. You type a question, it gives you an answer, and then you type another question. That back-and-forth is useful, but it is still just a conversation. You are doing all the thinking about what to do next, and ChatGPT is just responding one message at a time.

ChatGPT Agent is something different. Instead of answering one question and waiting for the next, it can actually go out and do things for you. You describe what you want to accomplish, and ChatGPT figures out the steps, takes action, and delivers results. It can browse websites, fill out forms, pull data from your connected apps, write and run code, create documents, and handle multi-step workflows on its own.

Think of it this way: regular ChatGPT is like texting a really smart friend for advice. ChatGPT Agent is like handing that friend your laptop and saying "just take care of it for me." For a broader look at how agents and chatbots compare, check out our guide on what AI agents are and how they differ from chatbots.

How to access ChatGPT Agent

Agent mode is a separate mode inside ChatGPT that you activate yourself. It does not turn on automatically based on what you ask. When you open ChatGPT, you start in regular chat mode by default.

To switch to agent mode, you have two options. You can click the Tools dropdown (the "+" icon near the message box) and select "Agent mode" from the list. Or you can type /agent followed by your instructions directly in the chat.

Once you activate it, the interface changes. Instead of just getting a text response, you will see ChatGPT working in real time. It shows you the browser windows it opens, the steps it takes, and the decisions it makes along the way. It feels more like watching someone work on your behalf than having a conversation.

Who can access ChatGPT Agent?

ChatGPT Agent is only available on paid plans. If you are using the free version of ChatGPT, you will not see the option at all.

Here is what each plan gets:

  • ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) includes 40 agent tasks per month
  • ChatGPT Pro ($200/month) includes 400 agent tasks per month
  • ChatGPT Team ($30/month per user) includes agent access with usage limits
  • Business and Enterprise plans include agent access, with flexible usage options

One helpful detail: only the initial task prompt counts toward your monthly limit. Follow-up steps, clarifications, and the agent's own internal actions during a task do not eat into your quota.

If you hit your limit on a Plus plan, you can purchase additional credits at $0.75 each, or you can wait for the monthly reset.

Where does ChatGPT Agent work?

One of the best things about ChatGPT Agent is that it works across all platforms. You do not need a specific app or device to use it.

  • Web browser at chatgpt.com
  • Desktop app on Mac and Windows
  • Mobile apps on iOS and Android

The experience is consistent across all of these. You activate agent mode the same way, and it has the same capabilities regardless of which platform you are on.

That said, if you want the most seamless experience (especially for things like keyboard shortcuts and always-on access), the desktop app is worth installing. You can summon ChatGPT instantly with Option + Space on Mac or Alt + Space on Windows, which is useful when you are in the middle of other work.

How to install the ChatGPT desktop app

While the desktop app is not required for agent mode, it does make the overall experience smoother. Here is how to get it set up.

On Mac

  1. Visit openai.com/chatgpt/download and click the Mac download button
  2. Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag ChatGPT into your Applications folder
  3. Launch ChatGPT from Applications and sign in with your OpenAI account
  4. Grant any permissions the app requests (these are needed for features like the keyboard shortcut)

Requirements: macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or newer, 4GB RAM, 500MB free storage space.

On Windows

  1. Visit openai.com/chatgpt/download and click the Windows download button
  2. Run the ChatGPTSetup.exe installer (run as administrator if prompted)
  3. Choose your installation options (desktop shortcut, Start menu entry, launch at startup)
  4. Complete the installation and sign in with your OpenAI account

Requirements: Windows 10 version 1903 or later, or Windows 11. 4GB RAM minimum and 500MB free storage space.

How ChatGPT Agent actually works under the hood

When you give ChatGPT Agent a task, it does not just generate text. It boots up its own virtual computer in the cloud and uses that machine to get work done.

This virtual computer comes equipped with several tools:

  • A visual browser that can see and interact with websites the same way you do, by looking at the screen, clicking buttons, scrolling, and filling in forms
  • A text-based browser for faster, simpler web lookups that do not require visual interaction
  • A terminal for writing and running code
  • Direct API access for connecting to external services

Here is what a typical task looks like from start to finish:

  1. You describe what you want accomplished in plain language
  2. ChatGPT analyzes your request and starts planning its approach
  3. The agent begins executing, and you can watch its progress in real time
  4. If it needs to take a significant action (like submitting a form or sending a message), it pauses and asks your permission first
  5. When finished, it presents the results for your review

The visual browser part is particularly interesting. ChatGPT Agent takes frequent screenshots of what it sees on screen and uses computer vision to understand the layout, identify buttons, read text, and decide what to click next. It is not reading raw code behind the scenes. It is literally looking at the page the way you would.

Web browsing: what ChatGPT Agent can do online

Web browsing is one of ChatGPT Agent's strongest capabilities, and it works differently than you might expect.

No separate browser needed

ChatGPT Agent does all of its browsing on its own virtual computer. You do not need to install a browser extension, download a separate app, or give it access to your Chrome browser. When you ask it to do something on the web, it opens a browser window on its virtual machine and navigates there itself. You can watch the whole process happen in real time inside the ChatGPT interface.

What it can do on the web

The agent can handle a wide range of online tasks:

  • Research and comparison shopping. Ask it to find the best flights for a trip, compare prices across multiple retailers, or research vendors for a business need. It will visit multiple sites, gather information, and compile the results for you.
  • Fill out forms and applications. It can navigate to a website, enter information into form fields, and submit them. Useful for things like job applications, registrations, or repetitive data entry.
  • Interact with web apps. It can use web-based tools like Google Docs, project management platforms, and other browser-based software.
  • Pull data from websites. Need specific information from a site that does not have an API? The agent can navigate there, find the data, and bring it back to you in a structured format.

Where it needs your help

When the agent hits a login page, it cannot enter your password for you. Instead, it triggers a "Take over browser" prompt. You click that, type your credentials yourself, and then hand control back. During this handoff, no screenshots are captured, so your password stays private.

The agent also cannot get past CAPTCHA challenges. If a website throws up a CAPTCHA, the task will stall on that site. And certain websites are blocklisted for security or compliance reasons, so the agent will not be able to visit them at all.

ChatGPT Atlas: a browser built around the agent

In October 2025, OpenAI released ChatGPT Atlas, a standalone web browser built on Chromium with ChatGPT baked directly into it. It is a separate product from ChatGPT Agent mode, but they complement each other well.

Atlas puts a ChatGPT sidebar right next to whatever webpage you are viewing. You can highlight text on any page and ask questions about it, get summaries while you read, compare products across tabs, and use agent mode right inside the browser for more complex tasks.

A few things worth knowing about Atlas:

  • Currently Mac-only. It requires Apple Silicon (M1 or later) and macOS 12 (Monterey) or newer. Windows and mobile versions are expected in the future.
  • It remembers context. Atlas has a "browser memories" feature that lets ChatGPT remember details from your browsing sessions and recall them later when relevant.
  • You control privacy. You can choose which sites ChatGPT can see, toggle memory on or off, and use incognito mode when you want full privacy. By default, OpenAI does not use your browsing data for model training.

To try Atlas, visit chatgpt.com/atlas to download the installer.

Atlas is not required to use ChatGPT Agent. Agent mode works perfectly fine in regular Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or any other browser through the ChatGPT website. But if you want AI assistance woven into your actual browsing experience, Atlas is worth checking out.

Connecting your apps

One of ChatGPT Agent's most practical features is its ability to connect directly to the tools you already use. OpenAI calls these "Apps" (they were previously called "connectors"), and they let ChatGPT pull information from and take actions in your existing services without you needing to copy and paste anything.

Currently supported apps

The list keeps growing, but some of the most useful integrations include:

  • Email: Gmail, Outlook
  • Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Intercom
  • File storage: Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, SharePoint
  • Project management: Notion, ClickUp, Basecamp, Linear
  • Development: GitHub
  • Other: Airtable, Help Scout, and more

How to connect an app

  1. Click your profile icon in ChatGPT, then go to Settings and select Apps
  2. Browse the app directory and find the service you want to connect
  3. Click Connect and follow the authorization prompts on that service's website
  4. Once connected, ChatGPT can access that app whenever it is relevant to your task

You can also connect apps on the fly by using @mentions in your prompt (like typing @Gmail) or by clicking the + icon and selecting More.

Once an app is connected, ChatGPT Agent can do things like search your Gmail for a specific email thread, pull files from your Google Drive, check your Slack messages for context, or reference GitHub issues while working on a task. It only accesses data that is relevant to your current request and within the permissions you granted during setup.

A note on plan requirements

Most app integrations are available on Team, Business, Enterprise, and Edu plans. Some basic integrations work on Plus, but the full range of connected apps is geared toward team and business users.

Working with files and documents

ChatGPT Agent can create, read, and work with files in several ways.

Uploading files directly

You can upload files to any ChatGPT conversation, and the agent can read and analyze them. This works with PDFs, spreadsheets (Excel and CSV), Word documents, text files, images, and more. Upload a financial report and ask the agent to summarize the key findings. Drop in a dataset and ask it to build a chart. Hand it a contract and ask it to flag potential issues.

Creating files for you

The agent can also generate files from scratch. Ask it to build a spreadsheet with specific data, create a slide deck outline, draft a report, or write a document, and it will produce downloadable files you can save and edit on your own machine.

Connecting to cloud storage

Through the Apps integrations mentioned above, ChatGPT Agent can reach into your Google Drive, Dropbox, SharePoint, or Box to find and reference files without you needing to upload them manually. This is particularly useful when the agent needs to cross-reference multiple documents or pull from a large collection of files.

What it cannot do with local files

This is an important distinction. ChatGPT Agent does not have direct access to your computer's file system. It cannot browse your local folders, open files on your desktop, or save things directly to your hard drive the way some other AI agents can. Everything goes through either file uploads or connected cloud storage. If you need an AI that works directly with your local files and folders, that is where tools like Claude Cowork come in.

Scheduled and recurring tasks

One of the most useful features in ChatGPT is the ability to schedule tasks that run automatically, even when you are not actively using the app.

How to set up a scheduled task

There are a few ways to create one:

  1. From the model selector: Click the model dropdown in a new chat and select Tasks
  2. After finishing an agent task: Click the Clock icon to set it to repeat daily, weekly, or monthly
  3. By just asking: Type something like "Every morning at 8am, check the latest news about renewable energy and send me a summary"

ChatGPT will confirm the schedule and start running the task at the times you specified. You will get a push notification or email when each run completes, so you do not need to have the app open.

Managing your tasks

You can view, edit, pause, or delete all your scheduled tasks at chatgpt.com/schedules. You can also access them by clicking your profile icon and selecting Tasks from the menu.

Limits to keep in mind

  • You can have up to 10 active scheduled tasks at a time
  • Tasks cannot run more frequently than every 15 minutes
  • No more than 4 tasks can be assigned within a single hour
  • Each scheduled task run counts against your monthly agent message limit

Practical examples

Morning news briefing. Set a task to run every day at 7am that searches the web for news about your industry and compiles a short summary. You wake up to a finished briefing instead of scrolling through headlines yourself.

Weekly client check-in prep. Schedule a Monday morning task that pulls the latest updates from your project management tool, reviews any new emails from a specific client, and drafts talking points for your weekly sync.

Price monitoring. Set a recurring task to check the price of a specific product across several retailers every few days and notify you if it drops below a certain threshold.

Safety and privacy features

ChatGPT Agent is designed with several layers of protection to keep you in control.

You approve important actions

Before the agent does anything consequential, like submitting a form, making a purchase, or sending a message, it pauses and asks for your permission. You can approve, modify, or reject the action.

Login handoffs

When the agent needs to log into a website, it hands the browser over to you. You enter your credentials manually, and the agent does not see or capture what you type. No screenshots are taken during this process.

Prompt injection protection

OpenAI has built defenses against malicious websites that try to trick the agent into doing something harmful. A separate "monitor model" watches for suspicious behavior and can pause the task if something looks off.

Data handling

For Business, Enterprise, and Edu workspaces, OpenAI does not use your workspace data to train models by default. For individual users, you can turn off data training in Settings > Privacy by toggling off "Help improve ChatGPT."

What ChatGPT Agent does well (and where it struggles)

No tool is perfect, and it helps to know where ChatGPT Agent shines and where it falls short so you can use it effectively.

Where it excels

  • Web research and data gathering. Give it a research question and it will methodically visit sources, cross-reference information, and compile thorough results.
  • Repetitive online tasks. Anything that involves visiting the same types of pages, filling out similar forms, or gathering the same kinds of data over and over is a strong use case.
  • Document creation. It is good at producing polished first drafts of reports, summaries, spreadsheets, and presentations from your instructions or uploaded files.
  • Connecting information across tools. Once your apps are connected, the agent can pull together context from your email, documents, and project management tools to give you more complete answers.

Where it struggles

  • Speed. Agent tasks take time. A research task that might take you five minutes of focused clicking could take the agent 10 to 15 minutes as it carefully navigates and reasons through each step.
  • CAPTCHA-protected sites. Any site with bot detection will block the agent from proceeding.
  • Complex creative work. While it can draft documents, it is not great at tasks that require nuanced creative judgment, like designing a presentation layout or writing highly stylized content.
  • Calendar and scheduling. Despite being able to access calendar tools, it often struggles with time zone calculations and the contextual reasoning needed for efficient scheduling.
  • Very long sessions. Like all AI, ChatGPT has a context window. In extremely long or complex tasks, it may start losing track of details from earlier in the session.

Best practices for getting the most out of ChatGPT Agent

Be specific about what you want

Vague prompts lead to vague results. Instead of "find me some flights," try "find round-trip flights from Austin to Tokyo for June 15-22, economy class, and compare the three cheapest options." The more detail you give, the better the output. See our guide on smart prompting for more on how to give effective instructions.

Start with simple tasks

Before handing over anything high-stakes, run a few low-risk tasks to get a feel for how the agent works. Try something like "search the web for the top three project management tools for small teams and give me a comparison table." Watch how it approaches the task, what it does well, and where it might need clearer instructions.

Watch the agent work, at least initially

You can observe exactly what ChatGPT Agent is doing in real time. During your first few tasks, pay attention to how it navigates, what decisions it makes, and where it gets stuck. This helps you learn how to frame future requests more effectively.

Review everything before acting on it

The agent is capable but not infallible. Always review the output before sharing it with others, acting on the information, or letting it take irreversible actions. This is especially important for anything involving money, communications, or sensitive data.

Use connectors to reduce manual work

The more apps you connect, the more useful the agent becomes. If you find yourself constantly uploading the same types of files or copying information from one tool to another, connecting that tool directly will save you significant time.

What comes next

You now have a solid understanding of what ChatGPT Agent can do and how to start using it. The next step is to try it yourself.

Pick a task you do regularly that involves multiple steps or tools and hand it to the agent. Watch how it handles the work, adjust your instructions based on what you observe, and gradually build up to more complex workflows as you get comfortable.

The AI agent landscape is evolving quickly, and ChatGPT Agent is one of the most accessible entry points available right now. Whether you are using it for research, task automation, or just to offload some of the repetitive work that eats up your day, the best way to understand its value is to put it to work.

For more guidance on AI agents, explore our Intro to AI agents collection, where we cover everything from foundational concepts to advanced workflows.

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