Could you provide a structured overview of the new Agent Mode in ChatGPT?
I'm interested in its core functionality, intended use cases, current limitations – and when request limits for using it apply.
#Overview of the new Agent Mode
pure basin
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Hi @pure basin. I'm kapa.ai, your friendly support bot. I will try to answer your question by searching through the knowledge base. :wave:
Certainly! Here’s a structured overview of the new Agent Mode in ChatGPT, based strictly on the provided knowledge sources:
Agent Mode in ChatGPT: Overview
Core Functionality
- Agent Mode (ChatGPT agent) enables ChatGPT to autonomously complete complex online tasks on your behalf. It can:
- Conduct in-depth research across public websites, uploaded files, and connected third-party sources (like email and document repositories).
- Perform actions such as filling out forms and editing spreadsheets.
- Seamlessly switch between reasoning and action, pausing to request clarification or confirmation as needed.
- Keep you in control at all times; you can interrupt or provide additional instructions at any point.
- Outputs include clearly labeled source links or screenshot citations for verification.
- Integrated with a built-in virtual browser, replacing the standalone Operator product and inheriting its core capabilities, such as interacting with web pages via mouse clicks, scrolling, and typingIntroducing ChatGPT agent, What is ChatGPT agent?, Operator Overview.
Intended Use Cases
- Automating web-based tasks (e.g., booking travel, filling out forms, summarizing news).
- Researching information from multiple sources, including public web and connected data repositories.
- Editing documents, spreadsheets, and performing repetitive workflows.
- Saving and scheduling recurring tasks (daily, weekly, monthly).
- Running multiple tasks in parallel, subject to dynamic security limitsGetting started, Operator Overview.
Current Limitations
- Availability: Only accessible to ChatGPT Pro, Plus, and Team users (Enterprise and Edu support coming soon). Not available in Switzerland or the EEA yet.
- Task Scope: Cannot reliably handle highly complex or specialized tasks (e.g., creating detailed slideshows, managing intricate calendar systems, or interacting with highly customized web interfaces).
- High-Stakes Tasks: Proactively refuses certain sensitive actions (e.g., financial transactions, sending emails, deleting calendar events).
- User Control: If the agent encounters a challenge (e.g., CAPTCHA, password field), it will pause and prompt you to take over.
- Device Support: Available on web, iOS/Android mobile, and desktop apps (MacOS, Windows).
- Connectors: Can use connectors for read-only data access; actions on the web are performed via the virtual browser.
- Security: Dynamic limits on the number of simultaneous tasks and open conversations; proactive safety and privacy measuresGetting started, Operator Overview, Policies.
Request Limits
- Pro: 400 messages/month
- Plus: 40 messages/month
- Team: 30 credits/month
- Only user-initiated messages that drive the agent forward (starting a task, interrupting, or responding to blocking questions) count against your limit. Most system clarifications or confirmations do not.
- Reasonable rate limits apply to concurrent tasks to ensure stable service for all usersGetting started.
If you need more details on a specific aspect, let me know!
Note: you can ask me a follow up question by @ mentioning me again :speech_balloon:
pure basin
@thick badge
In Agent Mode, the assistant attempted to upload files to Google Drive. I confirmed the upload permission after a delay, but nothing was actually uploaded.
When I took over the virtual desktop, I couldn't find the files the agent had generated either.
Could you clarify how file persistence and upload timing work in this context?
thick badgeBOT
Let me check the knowledge base for you again. One moment! :books:
Based on the available knowledge sources, here’s what can be clarified about file persistence and upload timing in Agent Mode:
-
File Persistence:
Files generated or uploaded during a ChatGPT conversation (including Agent Mode) are tied to the lifecycle of that conversation. If you delete the conversation, any associated files are scheduled for deletion and removed from OpenAI’s systems within 30 days, unless legal or security exceptions apply. Files uploaded as knowledge to a custom GPT are retained until the custom GPT is deleted, after which they are also removed within 30 days. There is no mention of files being stored locally on your device; files are stored in the cloud and associated with your OpenAI accountHow files are retained, macOS app retention. -
Upload Timing and Google Drive Integration:
When using Google Drive integration, files can be loaded into ChatGPT conversations from your Drive, and you can also attempt to upload files to Drive via the agent. However, the knowledge sources do not provide explicit details about the timing or reliability of file uploads initiated by the agent, especially if there is a delay in granting permissions. There is also no information about whether files generated by the agent are temporarily stored or retrievable if the upload process is interrupted or delayed. If the upload permission is granted after a delay, and nothing is uploaded, it is possible that the agent’s upload process timed out or was not retried, but this is not explicitly documented.
- User Takeover and File Availability:
If you take over the virtual desktop and cannot find the files the agent generated, the knowledge sources do not specify whether or where such files are stored if the agent’s upload or save action was incomplete. There is no documentation confirming that files generated by the agent are accessible outside the context of a successful upload or explicit user download.
Summary:
The knowledge sources do not explicitly describe the persistence or recovery of files generated by the agent if an upload to Google Drive is interrupted or delayed. If the upload is not completed during the agent’s session, those files may not be retrievable, and there is no guarantee of temporary storage or later access. For critical files, it is recommended to ensure uploads are confirmed promptly or to manually download files before ending the sessionHow files are retained, macOS app retention.
If you need more specific details, you may need to contact OpenAI support, as the current documentation does not cover this scenario in depth.
Note: you can ask me a follow up question by @ mentioning me again :speech_balloon:
pure basin
@thick badge
In Agent Mode, the assistant attempted to upload files from its virtual desktop to Google Drive.
I approved the upload after a delay, at which point I saw the virtual desktop being initialized – but no files were uploaded, and I couldn’t find any files in the desktop environment afterward.
Could you explain how file availability and timing behave in such cases? Does delayed approval affect the agent's access to its generated files?
thick badgeBOT
Let me check the knowledge base for you again. One moment! :books:
Based on the provided knowledge sources, there is no explicit documentation detailing how file availability and timing behave in Agent Mode when there is a delay in approving an upload to Google Drive, nor whether delayed approval affects the agent's access to its generated files.
What is clear from the sources is:
- Files generated or uploaded during a ChatGPT conversation are tied to that conversation’s lifecycle and are stored in the cloud, not locally. If a file is referenced in a conversation, it remains accessible only within that thread and only to you, for the life of the conversationHow files are retained, macOS app retention, File content in conversation.
- There is no information in the sources about temporary storage or recovery of files generated by the agent if the upload process is interrupted, delayed, or if the virtual desktop is re-initialized.
- The documentation does not specify whether the agent retains access to its generated files after a delay in approval, or if those files are lost when the virtual desktop is reset or re-initialized.
Summary:
The knowledge sources do not contain enough information to definitively explain how delayed approval impacts file availability in Agent Mode. It is possible that files generated by the agent are no longer accessible if the virtual desktop is re-initialized after a delay, but this is not explicitly documented. For critical workflows, it is advisable to approve uploads promptly or manually save files before any session interruption.
If you require a definitive answer, contacting OpenAI support may be necessary, as this scenario is not covered in the current documentation.
Note: you can ask me a follow up question by @ mentioning me again :speech_balloon:
pure basin
@thick badge
In the context of Agent Mode:
Does the virtual desktop environment persist over time, or is it reset automatically after periods of inactivity or user delay?
Understanding this behavior would help clarify when files might no longer be available.
thick badgeBOT
Let me check the knowledge base for you again. One moment! :books:
Based on the available knowledge sources, there is no explicit documentation describing the persistence or automatic reset behavior of the virtual desktop environment in Agent Mode. The sources do not specify whether the virtual desktop persists over time, or if it is reset after periods of inactivity or user delay.
However, related documentation for ChatGPT’s code execution environment (used for data analysis) states that such environments are destroyed within 13 hours of inactivity, but this information does not directly address Agent Mode’s virtual desktop or its file persistence behaviorHow does ChatGPT execute code?.