On Tuesday, OpenAI unveiled a new beta feature called “Tasks” for ChatGPT, marking the company’s entry into the virtual assistant arena, aiming to compete with established platforms like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa. This feature allows ChatGPT users to request actions to be performed at a specified future time, such as one-time reminders for events like concert ticket sales or recurring tasks such as daily weather updates or weekly news briefings.
Based on interactions with users, ChatGPT will also proactively suggest tasks that users can choose to accept or decline. This new function broadens the scope of what ChatGPT can offer, making it more assistant-like, similar to Alexa and Siri.
The launch follows a growing trend where AI-powered systems are reshaping virtual assistant functionalities. Amazon, for example, has been revamping its Alexa service with generative AI capabilities to remain competitive, while Apple has incorporated its “Apple Intelligence” technology into Siri. In collaboration with Microsoft-backed OpenAI, Apple now seeks user consent before sending queries to OpenAI’s services.
OpenAI’s “Tasks” feature will be available to Plus, Team, and Pro users globally in the coming days, with the web platform being the first to get access.