OpenAI unveils new tools to build AI assistants

OpenAI has introduced a new suite of APIs and developer tools, allowing businesses to create and deploy AI-powered assistants. These tools aim to enhance automation, improve efficiency, and streamline workflows across industries.

The launch includes the Responses API and the Agents SDK, which offer advanced AI integration capabilities. The Responses API merges the ease of OpenAI’s Chat Completions API with the tool integration features of the Assistants API. It enables AI agents to conduct web searches, analyse documents, and retrieve files. Powered by OpenAI’s Computer-Using Agent (CUA) model, it allows AI to perform computer-based tasks autonomously. Businesses can access AI models like GPT-4o search and GPT-4o mini search to enhance their applications.

Additionally, OpenAI announced that the Assistants API will be discontinued in early 2026, making the Responses API a key replacement for businesses developing AI-powered assistants.

The Agents SDK enables developers to orchestrate multiple AI agents, ensuring seamless collaboration between AI-driven processes. This tool is particularly beneficial for customer service automation, multi-step research, content creation, code review, and sales prospecting.

To support businesses in monitoring and optimising AI performance, OpenAI introduced integrated observability tools. These help track agent workflows, debug issues, and enhance overall efficiency.

“These new tools streamline core agent logic, orchestration, and interactions, making it significantly easier for developers to build AI-driven applications,” OpenAI stated.

The launch comes amid a surge in AI adoption. OpenAI has over 2 million enterprise users, and ChatGPT recently surpassed 400 million weekly active users. The company, valued at $157 billion, has raised $17.9 billion across ten funding rounds.

With these new tools, OpenAI continues to lead AI-driven business transformation, enabling companies to build, customise, and deploy AI assistants tailored to their needs.