ChatGPT’s Groundbreaking New Scheduled Tasks Feature

ChatGPT just launched a new feature that, alongside OpenAI’s groundbreaking Operator agent, signals a future where AI is far more capable than today.

Tasks let users schedule actions to be carried out in the future or at regular intervals. While Operator can actively browse the web and complete complex tasks independently, Scheduled Tasks focuses on automated, time-based interactions.

What Are ChatGPT Scheduled Tasks?

The concept is pretty straightforward – Tasks lets us schedule prompts to be run in the future or at regular intervals, such as once a day, then wait for the results to be relayed back to us by notification or email.

What makes it exciting is that it’s part of OpenAI’s broader initiative to create truly autonomous AI assistants. While Operator handles real-time web interactions, Scheduled Tasks manages time-based automations – both representing different aspects of AI working independently on our behalf.

How To Use Scheduled Tasks

At the moment, Tasks are only available to users with a paid ChatGPT Plus, Pro or Teams subscription.

To get started, just click your profile picture and select Tasks, or select ChatGPT With Scheduled Tasks from the drop-down Model menu. OpenAI has created a page with more detailed instructions, including how to set up push notifications, on its website here.

Five Helpful Ways To Start Using Scheduled Tasks Today

Personalized Morning Weather And Travel Briefing

This prompt sends helpful daily updates before you leave the house:

Every morning at 7 am, provide me with a weather report for [my location] as well as a travel report covering disruption on any local roads or transport networks, for the current day only.

Create Topical Social Media Posts For A Business

Finding ideas for social media posts can eat into your valuable time, particularly if you’re running a business by yourself:

At 9 am every day, please generate the text for a social media post for my [insert type of business]. It should relate to something topical connected to my business and should either promote the importance of the products and services we supply or educate or inform the customer about something of interest to them.

Create A Personalized To-Do List, With Reminders

This will help you organize your day and keep track of jobs you need to get done:

Every day at 8 am, ask me what tasks I need to get done that aren’t already on my list. Generate a list of all my ongoing tasks along with tips to help me get them done. Remove tasks from my list as I tell you I’ve completed them.

Keep Up-To-Date On Topics That Matter To You

News briefings on any subject you want:

Every morning at 7 am, send me the latest news and content on the subject of [insert subject].

Meal Planning

Create a customized meal plan for the week:

Every Monday at 9 am, send me a weekly meal plan consisting of seven healthy dinners for a family of [insert family size] and provide a shopping list of all the ingredients I’ll need, broken down into categories.

Towards AI Agents?

We’re already seeing OpenAI’s vision of agentic AI taking shape. While Scheduled Tasks handles time-based automations, Operator demonstrates more advanced capabilities – actively browsing the web, making decisions, and completing complex tasks independently.

The Scheduled Tasks feature may be in beta, but combined with Operator, we can see OpenAI’s roadmap emerging. Future versions might integrate these capabilities – imagine scheduling an Operator task to automatically book your favorite restaurant every Friday or having it monitor prices and purchase items when they go on sale.

This integration would move OpenAI’s technology well beyond simply answering questions and giving advice. With Operator already handling web-based tasks and Scheduled Tasks managing time-based automations, we’re watching the evolution of AI into truly useful everyday assistants that can work independently on our behalf.

Conclusion

ChatGPT’s Scheduled Tasks feature is a significant step towards the creation of truly autonomous AI assistants. By scheduling actions to be carried out in the future or at regular intervals, users can automate AI interactions even while offline, marking a significant step toward agentic AI.

FAQs

Q: Who is eligible for the Scheduled Tasks feature?

A: The feature is currently only available to users with a paid ChatGPT Plus, Pro or Teams subscription.

Q: How do I get started with Scheduled Tasks?

A: To get started, click your profile picture and select Tasks, or select ChatGPT With Scheduled Tasks from the drop-down Model menu.

Q: Can I integrate Scheduled Tasks with other AI capabilities?

A: Yes, Scheduled Tasks can be integrated with Operator to create even more advanced AI capabilities.

Q: Is Scheduled Tasks in beta?

A: Yes, the feature is currently in beta and may have some limitations. OpenAI will continue to update and refine the feature as it moves forward.

Introduction: Technology for Social Change

Technology has the power to transform the way we live, work, and learn. In today’s digital age, it is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for social change. As technology continues to evolve, it is crucial that we harness its potential to bridge the digital divide and ensure that everyone has equal access to the opportunities it provides.

The Digital Divide: A Growing Concern

The digital divide is a growing concern worldwide, with millions of people lacking access to the internet and digital tools. This divide not only limits access to information and opportunities but also perpetuates social and economic inequalities. In many parts of the world, digital exclusion is a reality, and it is often exacerbated by factors such as poverty, lack of infrastructure, and limited access to education.

Education and Digital Inclusion: The Connection

Education is a powerful tool for social change, and digital inclusion is a critical component of this process. Education provides individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the digital world, access information, and participate in the global economy. By providing equal access to digital technologies, we can empower individuals to improve their lives, build better futures, and contribute to a more equitable and just society.

Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges

Despite the many benefits of digital inclusion, there are significant challenges to overcome. These include:

• Lack of infrastructure: In many parts of the world, infrastructure is limited, making it difficult to access the internet and digital tools.
• Cost: Digital devices and internet access can be expensive, making it difficult for low-income individuals to afford.
• Lack of digital literacy: Many people lack the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively use digital technologies.

Opportunities

Despite these challenges, there are many opportunities for digital inclusion:

• Mobile devices: Mobile devices have made it possible for people to access the internet and digital tools, even in areas with limited infrastructure.
• Low-cost internet: Low-cost internet options are becoming increasingly available, making it more affordable for people to access the internet.
• Digital literacy programs: Many organizations are offering digital literacy programs, providing individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively use digital technologies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, education and digital inclusion are critical components of social change. As technology continues to evolve, it is crucial that we prioritize digital inclusion and ensure that everyone has equal access to the opportunities it provides. By addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities, we can build a brighter future for all.

FAQs

What is digital inclusion?

Digital inclusion is the process of ensuring that everyone has equal access to digital technologies and the internet. This includes providing individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively use digital technologies.

What are the benefits of digital inclusion?

The benefits of digital inclusion include:

• Improved access to information and opportunities
• Increased economic opportunities
• Greater social inclusion

How can we achieve digital inclusion?

We can achieve digital inclusion by:

• Providing low-cost internet options
• Offering digital literacy programs
• Improving infrastructure

What is the impact of digital exclusion?

The impact of digital exclusion can be significant, including:

• Limited access to information and opportunities
• Perpetuation of social and economic inequalities
• Increased social exclusion

The Surprise Google Chrome Web Store Decision

The recent Chrome browser 2FA bypass attacks involved dozens of extensions being hacked and replaced with malicious versions that had the potential to impact millions of users. Call it a sophisticated phishing attack if you like, as social engineering was used to gain access to the various developer credentials required to make the extension switch, but one thing’s for sure: this was a security game-changer.

At the time, Google’s Chrome security team said that less than 1% of extension installs from the Chrome Web Store were found to include malware and "before an extension is even accessible to install from the Chrome Web Store, we have two levels of verification to ensure an extension is safe." Now, Google has taken a further step to help ensure this kind of attack doesn’t happen again.

The Curated Chrome Web Store Experience

Designed to provide businesses with a greater degree of control, as well as improved visibility, of their extension ecosystem, the new Chrome Web Store offers enhanced extension management capabilities. Google divides these capabilities into five categories:

• Simplified access to allow users to more efficiently find and install pre-approved extensions directly from the Chrome Web Store landing page.
• Enhanced security to promote these trusted extensions while minimizing the risk from potentially harmful ones being installed.
• Increased productivity as users will only be able to use the specific, pre-approved, extensions they need in their roles.
• Customizable interface to give admins greater control over the Web Store experience, including the curation of extension collections along with category-based controls.
• Greater transparency through enabling admins to create custom block messages on Chrome extension detail pages for more visibility into usage policies, coming "early this year" according to Google.

Conclusion

The new Chrome Web Store for enterprise users is a significant step forward in ensuring the security and integrity of the Chrome extension ecosystem. By providing businesses with a greater degree of control and visibility, Google is helping to mitigate the risk of 2FA bypass attacks and other security threats. While the new store is currently only available to enterprise users, it’s likely that its features will be rolled out to all users in the future.

FAQs

Q: What is the new Chrome Web Store?
A: The new Chrome Web Store is a curated experience designed to provide businesses with a greater degree of control and visibility over their Chrome extension ecosystem.

Q: What features does the new Chrome Web Store offer?
A: The new Chrome Web Store offers simplified access, enhanced security, increased productivity, customizable interface, and greater transparency.

Q: Is the new Chrome Web Store only available to enterprise users?
A: Yes, the new Chrome Web Store is currently only available to enterprise users, but it’s likely that its features will be rolled out to all users in the future.

Q: When is the new Chrome Web Store expected to be available to all users?
A: The new Chrome Web Store is expected to be available to all users "early this year" according to Google.