OpenAI is launching a new beta feature for ChatGPT called Tasks, marking the company's entry into the virtual assistant market, competing with Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, and Google Assistant.
Tasks will allow ChatGPT users to set tasks to be completed in the future. These can be one-time reminders, such as when concert tickets go on sale, or regular activities, such as weekly news updates or daily weather reports.
Examples of how Tasks can be used
"Remind me that my passport expires in 6 months."
"Send me the weather forecast for my region every morning at 8:00."
"Every Friday, make a list of weekend activities based on the weather and my location.
"Start my day with affirmations at 7:00 a.m."
"Every evening at 6:00 p.m., send a funny joke to my children.
How to Use Tasks
To enable this feature, select GPT-4o with scheduled tasks in the model selector. Then send a message to ChatGPT describing the task and its time.
You can manage all scheduled tasks directly in chat or from the Tasks section of the Profile menu. In addition, ChatGPT can suggest tasks based on user interaction, allowing you to accept or decline them as desired.
The feature supports scheduled tasks on all platforms using text commands, but they can only be managed in the web version. Task completion notifications are sent to the web, desktop and mobile versions.
Who can use the feature
The feature will first be available on the website for premium subscribers, including Plus, Team, and Pro, and will be rolled out globally over the next few days.
OpenAI hasn't said when (or if) the feature will be available to free users. It's possible that Tasks will remain a premium feature to justify the cost of a ChatGPT subscription. The company offers monthly subscriptions for $20 and $200.
The Verge notes that while scheduling capabilities are a common feature in digital assistants, this marks a shift in ChatGPT's functionality. Until now, the AI has worked exclusively in real time, responding to immediate requests rather than handling current tasks or future planning. The addition of tasks is a sign that OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT's role beyond conversation and into territory traditionally occupied by virtual assistants.
As a reminder, OpenAI is losing money on its $200 per month ChatGPT Pro plan. That plan gives access to the o1 AI model with "reasoning," the o1 Pro mode, and also removes speed caps on several of the company's other tools, including the Sora video generator.
