The latest system from OpenAI can be used to fill out forms and process information autonomously, with stakeholders urging universities to be ready for a rise in applications if prospective students are able to complete and submit a high volume of university applications at speed
The Operator system was launched in January 2025 and is currently only available as a research preview for Pro users as its creators refine performance.
It is one of the first AI agent tools launched by OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT – but international education stakeholders warn it could have huge implications for online administrative systems.
Meanwhile, OpenAI has stressed that the platform’s built-in safety features should limit harmful usage.
The AI agent software is designed to take control of a user’s internet browser and perform online tasks autonomously. It has the ability to understand a webpage and interact with it by typing, clicking, and scrolling.
OpenAI’s own description states that “Operator can be asked to handle a wide variety of repetitive browser tasks such as filling out forms”.
User cases such as restaurant bookings, grocery shopping and concert tickets are cited by OpenAI as potential applications, along with scope to dramatically improve efficiency for applications to public services.
The system can also write and send emails on your behalf and prepare simple supporting documents and statements using the existing generative AI technology from ChatGPT.
Speaking at the EnrolyCon conference last week, Cato Rolea, assistant director of digital transformation at Ecctis, told the audience that “the majority of stakeholders in higher education are only discussing the impact of AI on teaching and learning [but] they are not considering the impact on admissions and operations”.
“Students are free to experiment with AI and use big tech – this is the elephant in the room,” Rolea said.
“A student or recruitment agent will soon be able to ask Operator to apply to every course, at every university in the world – and the system will do that,” he claimed.
“The risk for universities to be overwhelmed is very real, if they cannot retain control. They need to be prepared.”
However, OpenAI told The PIE News that Operator is trained to decline certain tasks – especially ones that require high-stakes decisions, such as applying to university or accepting an offer – and should ask for human approval in such cases if the instruction has not automatically been refused.
The platform also restricts how often users can make requests in a specific timeframe as a safety feature to limit harmful usage, it said.
There has been widespread adoption of AI tools in admissions and recruitment systems in recent months, with ApplyBoard launching a new Instant Submission tool and Edysor creating a virtual university admissions counsellor by cloning responses from the human advisory team at Gateway International.
These tools are quickly evolving from passive ways to source or create information, to active participants performing tasks in the digital ecosystem.
Most universities worldwide accept course applications directly through online portals. These portals are often free to use, however more selective universities require payment of an application fee before an application can be submitted.
However, Operator has built-in safety features that include requiring the human user to take over a task deemed as sensitive or that requires confirmation such as banking transactions.
Universities really need to get ahead of this… It might require a complete rethink of the way we collect and process applications
Cato Rolea, Ecctis
OpenAI is currently in trials with the City of Stockton in California to see how the system handles online requests for government services.
“Many universities are still struggling to understand AI tools as an assistant,” said Cato. “They are totally unprepared for what comes next with agent AI acting autonomously.
“Universities really need to get ahead of this and the way to do that is improving understanding of the capabilities of this technology. It might require a complete rethink of the way we collect and process applications.”
