OpenAI Launches 'Operator': 2025 Marks the Year of AI Agent Rivalry Among Big Tech

- Rush by big tech companies to release AI agents - This year is crucial for monetizing AI technology [Unblock Media] Since the beginning of this year, global big tech companies have been announcing plans to release AI agents, making 2025 a pivotal year to prove that AI can generate actual revenue. The industry is closely watching whether OpenAI's "Operator" and other AI agents from major IT companies can deliver tangible utility and value. Recently, OpenAI unveiled its new AI agent solution "Operator." OpenAI's "Operator" and other major IT companies' AI agents are under scrutiny to see if they can deliver tangible utility and value. Various global big tech companies plan to launch AI agents this year, backed by substantial funding and technological investments. These agents are evolving beyond simple chatbot forms, offering real-time interaction with users, automating tasks, and providing personalized information—tools that both corporate and individual customers can tangibly experience. The rapid pace of big tech's moves stems from the explosive interest in generative AI models since the second half of last year, coupled with expectations for new business opportunities. Particularly for big tech, there is urgency to move beyond the research and development stage and demonstrate monetization models that translate AI investments into actual revenue and profits. Recently, OpenAI unveiled its new AI agent solution "Operator." Operator is based on a large language model (LLM) and aims to provide users with more sophisticated interactions, task automation, and personalized services. Industry experts have assessed Operator as "a turning point for AI agents, overcoming the limitations of conversational AI introduced by ChatGPT and integrating seamlessly into users' daily lives and work environments." Alongside this, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Amazon—the so-called 'Big 4'—are also expected to release new or upgraded versions of their AI agents in the first half of this year. With their vast data infrastructure, cloud platforms, and software ecosystems, these companies are anticipated to drive fierce competition in various fields with their advanced AI agents. In a recent YouTube announcement, industry experts stated, "While last year was about AI technology raising market expectations, this year will test whether it can actually generate revenue." This means that the AI agents unveiled by big tech, developed with massive R&D investments, must convincingly demonstrate what efficiencies they can bring to corporate clients and what value they can add to everyday life for individual users. Only by proving their 'effectiveness' and 'relevance' can they secure further investment and market expansion. With numerous AI-focused startups either collaborating with big tech or developing their own solutions to enter the market, the key question remains whether "the foundation for the growth of the AI agent ecosystem can be established within this year." 1. Subscription Model vs. API Business When big tech firms start launching AI agents in earnest, various attempts will likely be made to offer subscription-based services for individual and corporate clients as well as API business models that leverage AI technology. Market domination is expected to hinge on each company's strategic partnerships and pricing policies. 2. Privacy Protection and Ethical Issues As AI agents provide personalized services based on user data, important challenges surrounding privacy protection and ethical responsibility are anticipated. The guidelines and standards set by governments and regulatory authorities will likely play a crucial role in establishing the institutional framework for the future AI agent market. 3. Technology Democratization vs. Closed Ecosystem Discussions around the scope of disclosure for large AI models and technologies are expected to intensify. The clash between the pursuit of technology democratization and the strategy of building a closed ecosystem centered on big tech will decide whether the next-generation AI market will be dominated by large corporations or whether open-source communities and small startups can grow together. The schedule of AI agent launches by major big tech companies starting early this year is anticipated to become a critical testing ground for confirming whether AI can indeed become a profitable business model. Industry consensus suggests that it will be essential to closely monitor the utility and socio-economic justification provided by AI agents from large IT corporations, with OpenAI's 'Operator' leading the charge. The attention now turns to which AI agents will not only advance technologically but survive and thrive in the actual market.