OpenAI's new tools can help businesses build AI agents
They improve orchestration, add built-in capabilities, and make everything more reliable.
If you’ve ever wished for an AI that could handle research, sort through files, or even perform tasks on your computer without constant supervision, we've got news for you.
OpenAI has rolled out a new set of tools and APIs aimed at making it easier for developers to build AI agents that can work autonomously.
One of the biggest updates is the Responses API, which blends the simplicity of Chat Completions with the tool-use features of the Assistants API. This means you can now create applications where models use multiple tools and perform multiple model turns in a single API call.
Another major upgrade is the introduction of built-in tools within the Responses API. Web Search is one of these tools, providing quick, up-to-date answers with citations. It supports GPT-4o and GPT-4o-mini and is useful for applications like shopping assistants, research agents, and travel planners. Web Search is already outperforming benchmarks like SimpleQA, with a 90% accuracy score, and pricing starting at $30 per 1,000 queries for GPT-4o search and $25 for GPT-4o-mini.
File Search is another powerful tool that enables retrieving relevant data from large document sets. It supports multiple file formats, metadata filtering, and custom ranking. It's available via the Responses API at $2.50 per 1,000 queries, with storage fees of $0.10 per GB per day.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
One of the most intriguing additions is Computer Use, currently in research preview. This tool enables automation of tasks using mouse and keyboard actions, allowing for applications such as web browsing automation and data entry. Powered by OpenAI’s Computer-Using Agent (CUA) model, it is available for select developers in usage tiers 3-5, with pricing set at $3 per million input tokens and $12 per million output tokens.
OpenAI also introduced the open-source Agents SDK for multi-agent workflows. The SDK allows developers to create highly configurable AI agents with built-in tools and intelligent handoffs. Companies like Coinbase have already utilized the Agents SDK to automate crypto transactions.
For developers wondering how these updates affect existing APIs, OpenAI has laid out a transition plan. The Chat Completions API will remain available and continue to receive model updates, but those building new agentic applications are encouraged to switch to the Responses API. Meanwhile, the Assistants API will be deprecated by mid-2026, with OpenAI providing a migration guide for current users.
