Hajra Naz
ChatGPT has just introduced a groundbreaking feature, signaling a new era for AI. Alongside OpenAI’s Operator agent, this feature points toward a future where AI is more capable than ever. The new Scheduled Tasks feature allows users to automate actions at specific times or intervals, adding a layer of convenience for day-to-day tasks.
While the Operator agent is designed to interact with the web and complete complex tasks independently, Scheduled Tasks focus on automating time-based interactions, such as sending reminders or generating reports at regular intervals. It may seem like a simple idea, but it complements OpenAI’s larger vision for autonomous AI—agents that can handle multi-step objectives without constant human input.
This vision is already being realized through OpenAI’s Operator, which navigates websites and completes tasks for users autonomously. In contrast, Scheduled Tasks adds a more straightforward but equally powerful layer of functionality for users, enabling them to manage tasks efficiently, even when they’re offline.
Read More: OpenAI introduces Operator, an AI tool to automate online tasks.
What Are ChatGPT Scheduled Tasks?
Scheduled Tasks allow users to set prompts that will be run at specified times or recurring intervals, such as daily or weekly. These tasks could include anything from receiving weather updates in the morning to getting regular updates on specific topics.
This feature is significant since it is a component of OpenAI’s broader project to create AI systems that are completely independent. A fully autonomous AI assistant must have both Scheduled Tasks and Operator, which handle time-based automation and real-time web interactions, respectively.
How to Use Scheduled Tasks
Currently, Scheduled Tasks is available only for users with a paid ChatGPT Plus, Pro, or Teams subscription. To get started, simply click on your profile picture and select the Tasks option or choose ChatGPT with Scheduled Tasks from the model menu. OpenAI has also created a page with more detailed instructions, including how to set up push notifications, which can be found on their website.
Five Creative Ways to Use Scheduled Tasks Right Now
Here are five useful prompts to help you make the most out of the Scheduled Tasks feature:
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Personalized Morning Weather and Travel Briefing
Set up daily updates that provide a weather forecast and travel disruptions for your area.
“Every morning at 7 am, provide me with a weather report for [my location] and any travel disruptions on local roads or transport networks.”
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Create Topical Social Media Posts for Your Business
If you’re a business owner, save time by scheduling social media posts.
“At 9 am every day, generate text for a social media post for my [business]. It should relate to something topical in the industry and either promote my products or educate my customers.”
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Personalized To-Do List with Reminders
Organize your day with an automatic to-do list and reminder system.
“Every day at 8 am, ask me what tasks I need to complete. Create a list of all my ongoing tasks with tips to help me finish them, and remove completed tasks as I tell you.”
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Stay Up-to-Date on Topics that Matter
Get daily news updates on any subject you care about.
“Every morning at 7 am, send me the latest news on [insert topic].”
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Meal Planning and Shopping Lists
Organize your meals and grocery shopping for the week ahead.
“Every Monday at 9 am, send me a weekly meal plan with seven healthy dinners for a family of [size] and a shopping list categorized by ingredients.”
Read More: 5 ChatGPT Prompts Every HR Expert Needs to Know
Moving Toward Fully Autonomous AI Agents
As we explore these features, it’s clear that OpenAI’s vision for autonomous AI is starting to take shape. While Scheduled Tasks covers time-based automation, Operator enables AI to actively interact with websites, make decisions, and handle more intricate tasks on its own. Together, these two features represent a significant leap toward AI agents that can manage a variety of tasks without constant human intervention.
Although Scheduled Tasks is still in its beta phase, we can already imagine how these capabilities might merge in the future. For example, in future iterations, we could schedule the Operator to automatically book reservations at your favorite restaurant every Friday or track product prices and make purchases when discounts are available.
This integration would elevate OpenAI’s offerings far beyond answering questions or providing recommendations. With Operators handling web-based tasks and Scheduled Tasks managing automated, time-based tasks, we’re witnessing the evolution of AI into fully autonomous, everyday assistants capable of working independently on our behalf.
