Recently, OpenAI unveiled the new Responses API, offering developers foundational components to build AI agents. These agents are capable of performing web searches, file mining, and various tasks on computers on behalf of users.
According to Olivier Godement, the head of product for the OpenAI platform, while the company will develop some agents independently, such as Deep Research and Operator, it recognizes the complexity of the world and the diversity of industry applications. Therefore, OpenAI is more than willing to provide these essential tools, enabling developers to create optimal AI agents tailored to their specific needs and use cases.
The Responses API features a built-in web search tool based on the same search model used by ChatGPT. This allows developers to retrieve and cite real-time information from the web when using GPT-4o and GPT-4o mini. Additionally, it includes a computer interaction capability that leverages the company's Operator model to perform tasks on behalf of users. The API also offers a document search tool, which can assist customer service agents in filtering FAQs or help legal assistants find past case references.
In addition to the Responses API, OpenAI has announced the release of the Agents SDK. This tool aims to enable developers to "coordinate" the workflows of AI agents. Nikunj Handa, the product manager of the OpenAI API team, explained that the Responses API serves as the "atomic unit" for completing specific tasks using models and tools, while the Agents SDK allows multiple such atomic units to work together to solve more complex problems. This makes it easier for developers to manage all agents and ensure they work towards a common goal.
The introduction of the Responses API and Agents SDK complements OpenAI’s existing developer toolkit. For instance, the Chat Completions API allows developers to create AI tools that respond to user queries. OpenAI also plans to replace the current Assistants API with the Responses API by mid-2026. The company stated that it has "incorporated key improvements" into the Responses API based on developer feedback regarding the Assistants API.
