(Reuters) – Generative artificial intelligence leader OpenAI said on Tuesday it was rolling out a beta feature called Tasks to ChatGPT, signaling the company’s foray into the virtual assistant space, competing with Apple’s (NASDAQ: ) Siri and Amazon’s (NASDAQ: ) Alexa.
Tasks will allow ChatGPT users to request tasks to be performed in the future, including one-time reminders such as concert ticket sales or recurring actions such as weekly news briefings or daily weather forecasts.
Based on user conversations, ChatGPT can also suggest tasks, although users will have the option to accept or decline them.
ChatGPT’s release in late 2022 fueled an investment frenzy in AI companies, prompting Amazon to update its decade-old, loss-making Alexa service with GenAI capabilities to stay competitive with GenAI-powered chatbots.
Last December, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said a revamped version of Alexa — which would take actions for users without prompting — would be released in the “coming months.”
Meanwhile, Apple has integrated its “Apple Intelligence” technology into Siri, using ChatGPT’s expertise and asking users for permission before querying the OpenAI service as part of Apple’s tie-up with the Microsoft-backed startup.
OpenAI said it will begin rolling out the beta to Plus, Team, and Pro users globally over the next few days, starting with the web platform.
