How ChatGPT Work handles research, files and multistep projects — and how to get started

The useful part

ZDNET's key takeaways ChatGPT Work can browse, manage files, and complete tasks. That's because ChatGPT Work is agentic, which is a fancy way of describing how some AIs can go off and accomplish a series of tasks. Because ChatGPT has become more capable, the differences between ChatGPT and ChatGPT Work can be subtle.

How it works

• For example, if you ask ChatGPT to plan a travel itinerary, it will search the web and gather together a list of great destinations.
• Deep Research can dig around the web and build a much deeper analysis than ChatGPT.
• It can move around the web on screen (rather than or to retrieving a web page's HTML data).
• In fact, agentic work tools like Claude Cowork and ChatGPT Work evolved directly out of agentic coding tools that some users decided to use for non-coding tasks.
• What you need for ChatGPT Work ChatGPT Work is available for all ChatGPT users, even those on the free tier.

What to take from it

I started digging through Amazon and realized I'd spend an hour or more trawling specs because the product headline doesn't always indicate how many devices a mouse supports. The AI can also be very helpful, but you have to pace and lead it with care and attention. For longer projects, ask the AI for a plan before it executes anything.

Example or evidence

• An example research project Before I set you loose on ChatGPT Work, I'd like to show you a research project I gave the tool.
• I gave ChatGPT Work one prompt that consisted of the following components: I want you to do some Amazon research for me.
• Finally, I gave it an assignment only ChatGPT Work (and not ChatGPT or ChatGPT Deep Research) could do.
• As you can see in the image below, that process took ChatGPT a little over 10 minutes, during which I went and got myself a nice cup of coffee and played with the dog: I used Work to research Amazon products.

Details worth keeping

and my top 10 tips for getting started with agentic AI. Free users can try it, but paid plans offer more capacity. Start small, limit permissions, and double-check its work.

Related coverage

• Geeky Gadgets: ChatGPT is widely used for productivity, creativity and learning, yet many users overlook ways to optimize their experience.
• Geeky Gadgets: ChatGPT Work is a mode designed to handle structured, task-oriented operations, offering practical solutions for professionals managing workflows or automating repetitive tasks.
• Androidauthority: This site is my new favorite prompt bank for ChatGPT and beyond.
• Kdnuggets: This article walks through how ChatGPT Work specifically earns its reputation, where the underlying models genuinely hold up against the competition, and where the honest limits are.