# AI Agents: The Future of Automated Work in 2025
The artificial intelligence sector is progressing significantly towards the development of “AI agents”—autonomous software entities that can handle intricate, multi-step assignments independently. Prominent tech firms, such as Google and OpenAI, are actively engaged in the creation of agentic AI systems, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman forecasting that AI agents will “enter the workforce” in 2025.
## OpenAI’s New Tools for AI Agents
To actualize this vision, OpenAI has recently unveiled a new **Responses API**, aimed at assisting developers in creating AI agents that can function autonomously utilizing OpenAI’s sophisticated AI models. This API is intended to take the place of the current **Assistants API**, which will be retired by mid-2026.
With the **Responses API**, developers can design AI agents capable of:
– **Searching company files** with a file search tool that rapidly retrieves pertinent information from internal data repositories.
– **Exploring websites** to collect data, akin to OpenAI’s **Operator** agent, which automates processes such as data entry and systems management.
Nonetheless, OpenAI recognizes that its **Computer-Using Agent (CUA)** model, which enables these functionalities, is still in its nascent phase and might occasionally produce erroneous outputs. The company is dedicated to refining the technology as it progresses.
## Enhanced Web Search for AI Precision
Developers utilizing the **Responses API** will be provided access to the same AI models that underpin **ChatGPT Search**, including:
– **GPT-4o Search**
– **GPT-4o Mini Search**
These models are capable of searching the web, responding to inquiries, and referencing sources, considerably enhancing the factual correctness of AI-generated outputs. According to OpenAI’s **SimpleQA benchmark**, which evaluates AI confabulation rates:
– **GPT-4o Search** achieved **90% accuracy**
– **GPT-4o Mini Search** achieved **88% accuracy**
– **GPT-4.5 (without search)** attained only **63% accuracy**
In spite of these advancements, AI agents continue to encounter hurdles. The **CUA model** has not yet reached full reliability for task automation on operational systems, and despite enhanced search functions, AI models still commit factual errors approximately **10% of the time**.
## Open Source Tools for Developers
To assist in AI agent development, OpenAI has also launched:
– **The Agents SDK** – A toolkit designed to facilitate the integration of AI models with internal infrastructures, establish safeguards, and oversee agent activities.
– **Swarm** – An open-source infrastructure for coordinating multiple AI agents working in tandem.
## The Road Ahead for AI Agents
While AI agents are evolving rapidly, the technology remains in its preliminary stages. Recent events, such as the shortcomings of **Manus AI**—a Chinese startup’s AI agent platform—underscore the disparity between lofty marketing promises and actual performance.
As AI enterprises continue to enhance their models, AI agents are predicted to evolve into more dependable and proficient entities. However, businesses and developers should maintain a prudent and grounded view of the present limitations of AI automation.
With continual advancements, AI agents may soon transform various sectors by autonomously managing intricate tasks, marking 2025 as a crucial year for AI-powered automation.
