Imagine having an assistant who doesn’t just suggest things – but actually clicks the buttons on your behalf!
They check your diary, browse websites, find hotels, fill in booking forms and (in theory) get the job done.
That’s the big promise behind ChatGPT’s new ‘Agent Mode’. It’s OpenAI’s latest feature that turns your AI from a chat companion into a digital ‘doer’; and while it’s still early days, it gives us a fascinating glimpse of where this technology is heading.
Would I trust it to book my train tickets or hotel right now? Honestly, no. But give it 12 months? I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes the default way we all interact with search engines, booking sites, and online admin.
Let’s explore what ‘Agent Mode’ can do — and where it’s likely to take us next.
What Is Agent Mode?
Until now, ChatGPT’s been great at helping you think through a task: writing a proposal, drafting a reply, creating content, summarising a report.
But with ‘Agent Mode’, ChatGPT will actually do the task.
- It can browse the web like a human
- Click buttons, navigate pages, and fill in forms
- Access your calendar, inbox, or documents (with permission)
- Run code, open files, and interact with online tools
It’s basically a virtual assistant with a mouse and keyboard and just enough initiative to carry out instructions (with your approval).
Available to Pro, Plus, and Team users, it’s not some futuristic AI idea – you can try it today by selecting “Agent Mode” from the chat box in ChatGPT.
A Glimpse of the Future: Booking Travel with AI
Here’s a quick example.
Let’s say I’ve got a client meeting in Manchester next week. I want to:
- Check my calendar
- Book a train from Plymouth
- Find a hotel near the meeting location
- Add the bookings to my calendar
In Agent Mode, I might type:
“Book me a train from Plymouth to Manchester for next Tuesday morning, and find a 4-star hotel within 10 minutes of Piccadilly station.”
And ChatGPT will:
- Scan my calendar for conflicts
- Browse National Rail or Trainline for route options
- Open hotel booking sites and compare listings
- Draft the bookings for my approval
- Add everything to my calendar or send a confirmation email
That’s the theory, at least. In practice? It’s still a bit clunky. The interface can be slow. Some sites confuse it. And I’m not quite ready to let it enter my card details just yet.
But make no mistake – this is the direction things are heading.
Why This Is Bigger Than Travel Bookings
The real shift here isn’t about trains or hotels. It’s about how we interact with the web.
For decades, the internet has relied on us doing the work:
- We search
- We click
- We compare
- We type
With this new technology, we’re entering a new model where your AI does the legwork on your behalf, and you just approve the results.
It changes everything:
- Search engines: Why trawl through 50 tabs when your AI can do it for you?
- Booking sites: Will we even need to visit them ourselves?
- Apps and tools: What happens when your assistant can log in and use them on your behalf?
What’s the Catch?
As with all new tech, there are caveats:
⚠️ Still in beta: Expect occasional bugs, formatting issues, and half-finished tasks
⚠️ Not perfect at reading complex sites
⚠️ Won’t log in or buy anything without permission
⚠️ You’re still the pilot – it’s just a smart co-pilot
But let’s be clear: this isn’t a gimmick. It’s a serious step toward a world where your AI does more than chat.
Final Thought: Today’s Curiosity, Tomorrow’s Norm
Right now, Agent Mode feels like a very clever intern who sometimes needs a bit of hand-holding. But in 12 months? It’s not hard to imagine most of us saying:
- “Ask my AI to book the travel.”
- “Get my assistant to handle that research.”
- “Let my AI sort the paperwork.”
We won’t be the ones clicking around – our AI assistants will.
Want to Be Ready for What’s Next?
At South West AI Solutions, we help businesses navigate this shift. Whether you’re experimenting with ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot or building internal automation workflows, we’ll help you do it in a structured, human-first way.
Want Help Creating Your Own AI Assistant or Custom GPT?
Whether you’re looking to streamline processes, create smarter workflows, or just save your team hours of effort each week, we can help you design AI tools that work for your business.
Get in touch and let’s explore what AI could do for you.
Matt Greaves
CEO and Founder
South West AI Solutions