OpenAI, the corporation behind ChatGPT, has declared something big — by 2028, it plans to launch a system called Automated AI Research, an AI that can think, discover, and create new scientific ideas on its own. OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman and Chief Scientist Jakub Pachocki revealed this plan during a live event, saying that this will move AI closer to what’s called Autonomous Intelligence — where machines can learn and explore just like humans.
OpenAI’s Roadmap to 2028
The company has a clear timeline for how this will happen.
- By September 2026, OpenAI will launch a test version called Automated AI Research Intern tools, designed to help researcher’s rapidity up their work.
- By March 2028, OpenAI aims to release a fully developed Automated AI Research system, which could perform independent studies and even make scientific discoveries.
According to Pachocki, this project will “meaningfully accelerate” scientific progress, allowing AI to write examination papers, test ideas, and possibly invent new technologies.
How It Works
The new AI research tools will allow machines to carry out studies automatically — without waiting for human orders. These systems will be able to collect data, analyze it, and bring detailed research reports across changed topics.
Pachocki explained that AI models are already skilled of completing five-second, five-minute, and five-hour tasks, and over time, they’ll evolve to handle long-term tasks lasting months or even years.
This would be a huge step toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) — the dream of making an AI that can think and learn like a human expert.
OpenAI’s Upcoming Hardware
Sam Altman also established that OpenAI is developing new AI hardware that will launch in the next few years. These devices will let users “take AI anywhere,” making ChatGPT and other AI tools easier to use in everyday life.
How It Compares to Google’s Gemini
Google’s Gemini AI already offers a “Deep Research” tool that can create complete research plans. However, it still needs humans to write prompts before it starts working. OpenAI’s new AI researcher, on the other hand, will be able to start and finish research all by itself, without human input.
PayPal Joins OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce
In related news, PayPal has adopted OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) — a system that permits users to make direct payments inside ChatGPT. People in the US can now buy products from stores like Etsy and Shopify straight through ChatGPT’s chat window.
In India, OpenAI has teamed up with NPCI and RazorPay to bring this fee feature soon.
