OpenAI’s New Agent Feature: What It Means for Small Businesses, Freelancers & Entrepreneurs
The tech world’s buzzing (again) this time it’s OpenAI rolling out a brand-new feature inside ChatGPT: agents. If you’re a freelancer, solopreneur, or running a small business, this isn’t just another shiny AI toy. It could genuinely save you time, streamline your workflow, and unlock new ways to deliver value to your clients.
Let’s break it down without the hype - what it is, how it works, and most importantly, how to actually use it to your advantage.
What is the ChatGPT Agent Feature?
In plain English:
Agents are like custom-trained digital assistants that live inside ChatGPT. They can perform multi-step tasks, interact with external tools (like your email or calendar), browse the web, and even execute logic based on your instructions.
Think of them as a mix between a super-powered VA and a smart intern that never sleeps.
You can build one for a specific task, like sorting your inbox, researching leads, generating social media posts, or compiling reports and it’ll keep improving the more you use it.
Why This Matters for Small Businesses & Freelancers
Here’s the thing: most small business owners and solopreneurs are wearing 10 hats at once. Time is your most precious asset and agents are here to give you some of it back.
1. Automation Without the Tech Headache
You no longer need to duct-tape 5 different apps together with Zapier and hope for the best. Agents can handle the entire process, from fetching data to formatting it to sending it off.
2. Always-On Support for Admin & Repetitive Tasks
We all have those jobs that need to be done, but definitely don’t need you to do them. Think: invoicing reminders, appointment confirmations, social post scheduling.
3. Faster, Smarter Client Work
If you do research-heavy or repetitive work for clients, SEO audits, competitor analysis, summarising documents etc, an agent can do 80% of the grunt work, so you can focus on the insights and strategy.
What Can ChatGPT Agents Actually Do Right Now? 🛠️
Here’s what agents are capable of (as of July 2025):
- Access external tools (APIs, databases, Google Sheets, etc.)
- Use a built-in virtual browser to search the web
- Take in multi-step instructions and run through them sequentially
- Store memory and improve through feedback
- Respond to triggers like time or user input (depending on setup)
And with OpenAI’s plugin and function calling infrastructure, the possibilities are expanding fast.
5 Practical Agent Ideas You Can Build Today
Whether you’re technical or not, you can start simple. Here are some agent ideas for different types of work:
| Type of User | Agent Idea |
|---|---|
| Freelancer | Proposal generator based on past client briefs |
| Solopreneur | Weekly task reporter that emails you priorities |
| E-commerce shop | Stock level checker + reorder assistant |
| Coach/consultant | Session summariser + action step generator |
| Agency/IT support | Lead qualifier that enriches form submissions |
Is It Worth the Effort?
Short answer: yes if you’re willing to think strategically.
This isn’t about replacing people. It’s about freeing them (you) up to focus on the work that truly matters. Agents won’t magically grow your business, but they’ll take a lot of friction out of the day-to-day if you point them in the right direction.
And like any new tool, the early adopters tend to win, especially when they’re building things tailored to their business needs, not just following templates.
My Thoughts
ChatGPT agents are a big step towards AI that actually works for small businesses, not just big enterprises. If you’re willing to experiment, you can use them to reduce overhead, improve consistency, and level up your client experience.
Start small. Test one idea. Then build on it.
Because in the near future, the difference between businesses that use AI and businesses that are powered by AI is going to get a lot more obvious.
And trust me - you want to be in the second group.
Ashley Adkins, Founder @ Adkinsio | Helping Business Work Smarter