ChatGPT Agent: The AI Assistant We've Been Waiting For, or Just Another Gimmick?

Ever since ChatGPT burst onto the scene a few years ago, many of us have been dreaming of that Jarvis-like AI assistant from Iron Man – one that could handle all those background tasks while we focus on what matters most. Schedule appointments, answer emails, manage our calendars – the works. When OpenAI recently released ChatGPT Agent, promising exactly that kind of comprehensive AI control over a computer, I knew I had to put it to the test.

After spending weeks testing ChatGPT Agent with real-world workflows like updating my CRM and booking full days of appointments, here's my honest take: while it's undeniably impressive and cool to watch, it's not quite ready to be that trusted virtual assistant we've all been hoping for.

What Exactly Is ChatGPT Agent?

ChatGPT Agent is AI with access to a full virtual computer environment – complete with web browser, tools, and service platforms. The idea is simple but powerful: give it a complex task in plain English like "Go schedule my calendar for the day based on all the emails in my inbox," and it should have everything it needs to make that happen through web browsers, Google Calendar, and other necessary tools.

Sounds amazing, right? Let's see how it performs in reality.

Setting Up and Getting Started

To access ChatGPT Agent, you'll need a ChatGPT Plus or Enterprise Pro subscription, which gives you a certain number of monthly uses. Activation is straightforward – just click the plus icon to access tools, then select "Agent Mode." Once enabled, ChatGPT will use that virtual machine to handle your requests.

Real-World Test: Planning a Property Tour

I decided to test the agent with a realistic real estate scenario. My prompt was: "On Thursday, August 21st, I'm doing a home tour with a client, Sarah. I'd like you to help me plan the best route between these properties, pick a spot for lunch, plan the optimal route, and create a calendar invite with the itinerary, adding Sarah to it."

The Process in Action

The agent immediately opened a web browser and began gathering information. It visited Zillow and Redfin to research the property addresses I provided, calculating distances between locations. Then, following my lunch request, it searched for "Best lunch near Raleigh Hills, Portland, Oregon restaurant," browsing Yelp reviews to find well-rated options near our route.

The agent settled on Cornell Farm Cafe – and I have to admit, it was an excellent choice. Located in a plant nursery with great food and reviews, it was perfectly positioned along our property tour route.

After 19 minutes of processing, the agent had created a complete itinerary with travel times, property descriptions, and lunch plans. It then requested permission to access my Google Calendar to schedule the appointment.

The Privacy Concern

Here's where things get concerning. When the agent requested access to my Google account, a warning appeared: "Logging in via the OpenAI agent browser may put your data at risk. Signing ChatGPT into websites can expose your data to malicious sites."

For testing purposes, I used a dedicated Gmail account, but this privacy warning is something every user needs to seriously consider before connecting their primary accounts.

The Results

Despite some technical hiccups during login, the agent successfully created a calendar appointment from 9:00 AM to 2:40 PM, allocating appropriate time for each property visit (about 10 minutes travel time between locations, which proved accurate), included lunch at Cornell Farms, added Sarah as a guest, and sent the invite.

Mission accomplished – but was it worth it?

The Reality Check

Let's be honest about what just happened. Yes, it's incredibly cool that AI can now open browsers, research restaurants, check calendars, and schedule appointments. But should a relatively simple task take 30 minutes while I sit and watch? Absolutely not.

If I have to babysit ChatGPT Agent for half an hour to complete what should be a straightforward scheduling task, there's no real time savings involved.

Other Tests and Limitations

Over several weeks of testing, I ran the agent through various scenarios:

CRM Contact Import: I asked it to add contacts from an open house signup sheet to my HubSpot CRM and enroll them in a buyer sequence. The agent got stuck in loops, couldn't properly format the spreadsheet, and ultimately failed to complete the task after numerous errors.

Presentation Updates: I requested updates to a listing presentation with new photos. While it completed the task, the photo placement was awkward and wouldn't actually save me time compared to doing it manually.

Important Concerns to Consider

Beyond performance issues, there are several serious considerations:

Data Privacy

The virtual machine setup means private data passes through OpenAI's systems. Even if they're not training on your data, they still have access to it during processing.

Regulatory Compliance

Many potential real estate use cases – like MLS data scraping or automated listing pulls – could violate MLS terms of service, which typically prohibit scraping activities.

Liability

If ChatGPT Agent goes rogue and makes unauthorized purchases or actions, you're ultimately responsible for the consequences.

Should Real Estate Professionals Use ChatGPT Agent?

Based on my extensive testing, my answer is no – at least not yet. Nine times out of ten, you're better off using other ChatGPT features like Deep Research for planning and route optimization, or setting up custom GPTs with specific actions for more controlled automation.

For tasks like appointment scheduling, dedicated automation tools or custom integrations provide more reliable results without the open-ended risks of agent mode.

The Future Outlook

That said, AI evolution happens at breakneck speed. Just look at how far we've come from ChatGPT being a "gimmick" to an everyday tool for millions. ChatGPT Agent represents a glimpse into where AI assistance is heading, and while it's not quite ready for prime time, that fully capable virtual assistant future doesn't seem far off.

Bottom Line

ChatGPT Agent is impressive technology that showcases the potential of AI automation. However, for real estate professionals looking for practical, time-saving solutions today, it's more of an interesting demonstration than a productivity tool. The combination of lengthy processing times, privacy concerns, reliability issues, and regulatory considerations make it premature for serious business use.

Keep an eye on this technology – it's evolving rapidly and could become genuinely useful sooner than we think. But for now, stick with more focused, reliable automation tools that don't require you to hand over the keys to your digital kingdom.

Have you tried ChatGPT Agent in your real estate practice? What AI tools are you currently using to boost productivity? Share your experiences in the comments below.