OpenAI is launching a new beta feature on ChatGPT called Tasks that allows users to schedule future actions and reminders.
The feature, which will roll out to Plus, Team and Pro subscribers starting today, is an attempt to make the chatbot something closer to a traditional digital assistant — think Google Assistant or Siri, but with more advanced language capabilities of ChatGPT.
Tasks works by letting users tell ChatGPT what they need done and when they need it done. Want a daily weather report at 7am? A reminder about your passport expiring? Or maybe just a bedtime joke to tell your kids? ChatGPT can now handle all of this through scheduled one-time or recurring tasks.
To use the feature, subscribers must select “4o with scheduled tasks” in ChatGPT’s template selector. From there, it’s as simple as typing in what you want ChatGPT to do and when you want it done. The system can also proactively suggest tasks based on your conversations, although users must explicitly approve any suggestions before they are created. (Honestly, I think the hints have the potential to create annoying slants at random).
All tasks can be managed either directly in chat threads or through a new Tasks section (available via web only) in the profile menu, so it’s easy to edit or cancel any tasks you’ve set up. After completing these tasks, notifications will notify users on web, desktop and mobile. There is also a limit of 10 active tasks that can run concurrently.
OpenAI has not specified when (or if) the feature may come to free users, suggesting that Tasks may remain a premium feature to help justify ChatGPT’s subscription costs. The company has monthly subscription levels of $20 and $200.
While scheduling capabilities are a common feature in digital assistants, this marks a change in ChatGPT’s functionality. Until now, AI has operated only in real time, responding to immediate requests rather than handling ongoing tasks or future planning. The addition of Tasks suggests that OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT’s role beyond chat into territory traditionally held by virtual assistants.
OpenAI’s ambitions for Tasks seem to extend beyond simple scheduling. Bloomberg reported that “Operator,” an autonomous AI agent capable of independently controlling computers, is slated for release this month. Meanwhile, reverse engineer Tibor Blaho revealed that OpenAI appears to be working on something codenamed “Caterpillar” that could integrate with Tasks and allow ChatGPT to search for specific information, analyze problems, summarize data, navigate pages of internet and access documents – with users receiving notifications. after completing the task.
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I also think of this new feature as a slightly more sophisticated scenario, but at the end of the day, Tasks is following a simple set of rote instructions, much like a typical bot. The goal of many AI frontier labs like OpenAI is to evolve these features into something that is able to interact with environments, learn from feedback, and make decisions without constant human input.
However, questions remain about how reliable these scheduled tasks will be and what happens if ChatGPT fails to deliver time-sensitive information. OpenAI’s decision to launch Tasks in beta suggests it’s still working out these details and wants to gather real-world feedback before a wider rollout.
For now, if you’re a paid ChatGPT user, you can start experimenting with Tasks by looking for the “4o with scheduled tasks” option in your template selector. Just remember that it’s still in beta – so maybe don’t rely on it for that super important appointment reminder.
