"An agent is a system that can act independently to perform tasks on your behalf."
Until now, artificial intelligence had been limited to answering questions and generating text. It was useful, yes, but totally dependent on the user.
That has just changed. We have entered the Agentic Era, a new phase in the evolution of AI in which models not only understand information, but make decisions and act autonomously.
This means that we move from chatting with passive AI to interacting with agents that can execute real tasks. We are not talking about a simple chatbot, but an assistant that works for you:
- Search for information on the web and verify sources.
- Explore archives and databases to find answers.
- Manage your computer as if you were a real user.
And the most important thing: all this happens without you having to supervise it at every step.
OpenAI has taken a key step in this direction with the release of a new API and SDK for developers, which allow these agents to be easily integrated into any application.
Below is the OpenAi launch video:
But, before going into details, let’s clarify a key concept:
What is an API and why does it matter in this context?
If you’re not technical, the term “API” may sound complicated, but it’s actually simpler than it sounds.
👉 API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules that allows two systems or programs to communicate with each other.
For example, when you use a weather app on your phone, it does not generate the weather information itself, but connects to a weather data API to get the information in real time.
In this case, the new OpenAI API will allow developers to integrate AI agents into their applications, so that they can act autonomously within different systems.
That said, let’s take a look at what this release includes and why it’s a game changer.
OpenAI's Big Launch: Autonomous Agents for All
OpenAI has introduced an ecosystem of specialized tools and models for creating AI agents capable of searching, analyzing and acting without human intervention.
The 3 Key Tools of the OpenAI Agents
- Web Search → Allows agents to access information on the Internet in real time, returning verified answers with citations from reliable sources.
- Archive search with RAG → Uses a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system, which allows the AI to explore internal documents and extract accurate answers without retraining the model.
- Computer management → AI can operate applications and systems without the need for specific APIs, simulating the actions of a real user (clicks, typing, browsing).
These tools do not operate in isolation. Each is driven by specialized models that ensure the best performance for the task:
- Operator → Responsible for computer management and visual interface control.
- GPT-4.5 with Deep Research → Specialized in detailed analysis and reporting.
- GPT-4 Search Preview → Optimizing web search with high accuracy and source citation.
This allows agents to be not only intelligent, but also highly specialized in each function.
How does this change the way we work?
Now that we understand what these agents are and what tools they have, let’s look at how they are impacting key sectors.
1. Customer Service That Actually Solves Problems
Imagine you need to change a flight and you decide to write to the airline chat.
❌ With a traditional chatbot: It responds with basic information about the change policy and redirects you to a form.
✅ With an autonomous agent:
- Search for your reservation in the database.
- Find alternative flights according to your preferences.
- It automatically changes the flight and sends you the confirmation.
The result: problem solved in real time, without human intervention.
2. Research Assistants in Record Time
Suppose you are an investment analyst researching market trends.
📌 An OpenAI agent could:
- Search the internet and find the latest financial reports.
- Explore internal databases to cross-check information.
- Write a market analysis with updated data and verified sources.
This is already being used by companies such as Coinbase to conduct studies in minutes instead of days.
3. A Personal Shopper Who Works For You
If you are looking for a specific jacket, an agent could:
- Analyze your purchase history and detect your style.
- Search for online stores with available stock.
- Complete the purchase automatically.
Here we are not talking about a simple product recommendation, but about an agent who takes care of the whole process for you.
4. Business Process Automation Without APIs
Many companies rely on legacy systems without APIs that make automation difficult. This is a topic we were looking at in a previous article related to RPA.
Now, an OpenAI agent can:
- Completing forms in legacy software.
- Transfer data between platforms without human intervention.
- Monitor key information and make decisions based on it.
Startups like Luminai are already using this technology to automate complex procedures that previously required months of implementation using traditional methods.
Is It Safe to Trust These Agents?
While the technology is impressive, there are challenges to consider:
- Decision-making errors → OpenAI has integrated real-time monitoring tools to mitigate this.
- Misuse → Developers can set limits and human validations on certain actions.
- Data privacy → OpenAI ensures that private information processed by agents is not used to train models.
As this technology evolves, the key will be to find the balance between autonomy and supervision.
The Manus counter-attack
Manus AI, which we talked about in last week’s post has quickly responded to OpenAI’s new release with a strategic counterattack: a partnership with Alibaba to integrate its AI models into its architecture, strengthening its capacity and scalability. While OpenAI was betting on its new API for advanced agents, Manus not only highlighted the superior autonomy of its system, but also took advantage of the media attention to demonstrate live its ability to operate unattended. With Alibaba’s backing, Manus now poses a real threat to OpenAI, accelerating global competition in the evolution of more autonomous and efficient AI agents.
The Agentic Era is not a futuristic concept: it is a reality that is transforming the way we work.
Companies that adopt this technology early will have a huge competitive advantage.
- If you are a developer, now is the time to explore the OpenAI SDK and API.
- If you have a business, you could soon have an AI agent working on your team.
The future is not just talking to AI. It’s letting AI work for us.
What do you think of this new era of AI agents? Does it excite you or worry you? How do you think they could help you in your business or in your day-to-day life?
Leave me your comment in this post, I’d love to read you 🙂
Have a good week!
REFERENCES OF INTEREST
The official OpenAI blog | PYMNTS | Reuters Coverage | O| Third-party comments on related projects (e.g. Auto-GPT)
