Alright, folks. OpenAI just dropped a new beta feature called “Tasks,” and it’s giving serious side-eye to Alexa, Siri, and all the other so-called “assistance” tools out there. If you thought ChatGPT was just your friendly banter bot, think again – it’s about to manage your life, one scheduled snark at a time.

What is "Tasks"?

Here’s the lowdown: "Tasks" lets you plan actions and reminders, basically turning ChatGPT into a legit digital assistant. Imagine telling it to remind you about your passport renewal or even asking it to keep a recurring joke ready for your kid (who’s probably funnier than you, but hey, keep trying). Paying subscribers – Plus, Team, and Pro users – get the first taste of this shiny new feature. Sorry, freeloaders.

How does it work?

How it works: You’ll choose “4o with scheduled tasks” (yeah, the naming’s clunky) in the model menu, then tell ChatGPT what to do and when to do it. Want a daily weather update? Done. Need a subtle nudge to stop doomscrolling TikTok? Sorted. Desperate for a reminder to water that dying succulent on your desk? It’s on it – though honestly, maybe let it go.

Still under your control

But don’t freak out – it’s not going full HAL-9000 just yet. Tasks won’t make decisions for you without your say-so. Every suggestion still needs your precious approval. Think of it as clingy but cute, like that coworker who won’t stop asking for feedback on their spreadsheet.

Key features of "Tasks"

The nitty-gritty:

• Tasks are managed via chat threads or a new profile menu section.
• You’ll get notifications when it wraps things up (because God forbid you miss a reminder about trash day).
• There’s a 10-task limit. So, no, it’s not replacing your personal assistant – yet.

Paywall perks

For now, this feature is locked behind a paywall. Free-tier users, take solace in knowing you can still type “Hey ChatGPT, tell me a joke” without coughing up cash. But the premium crowd? They’re the guinea pigs for OpenAI’s bigger plans, which allegedly involve some next-level, autonomous "Operator" AI agent. You know, because Skynet didn’t traumatize us enough.

What’s next?

Oh, and there’s a hush-hush project called “Caterpillar” in the works. Rumor has it this could be the “Tasks” sibling that evolves into a full-blown AI overlord. One that might even reorder your groceries before you’ve finished the milk. Convenient? Yes. Terrifying? Also yes.

Conclusion

So there you have it. ChatGPT just took its first step toward becoming your digital life coach. Whether it’s a humble taskmaster or the start of an AI uprising, one thing’s for sure: Alexa better start sweating.

Stay tuned, because if Skippy were in charge, you’d already have a task lined up to read this article twice. Once for the info, and once for the sheer sass. 😏