Issue #72: OpenAI Agent (The Complete Guide for Online Entrepreneurs)

Good morning.

Yesterday, OpenAI finally joined the agent party.

For the past couple of years, I’ve been telling you that the large companies want to become your general purpose agent, that can do anything from your job to booking your flights.

Basically, anything that happens on a computer and the internet is up for grabs.

While smaller companies like Manus and Genspark have been shipping autonomous AI agents for months, OpenAI just released ChatGPT Agent, which is their answer to the growing agent ecosystem.

And here's what matters:

The agent wars that started with innovative startups just got validation from the biggest name in AI.

This isn't OpenAI innovating. This is OpenAI catching up.

But when the 800-pound gorilla enters the room, even as a latecomer, the entire landscape shifts.

For $200 a month, any business can now deploy OpenAI's version of an autonomous AI employee.

Like Manus and Genspark before it, ChatGPT Agent can research your market, manage campaigns, handle customer service, and execute strategies autonomously.

In this special report, I'm breaking down what ChatGPT Agent means for online entrepreneurs and how you can best use it.

The agent wars didn't begin yesterday. But they just went mainstream.

This issue is for both free subscribers and Cortex members.

Let's get into it.

— Sam

IN TODAY’S ISSUE 🤖 

• What is ChatGPT Agent?

• The Safety Dance: What OpenAI's warnings really mean for your business

• Industry Transformation: Why this is Klarna x 1000

• SaaS Companies: From software provider to intelligence platform

• Digital Agencies: How to compete when everyone has an army

• E-commerce: The Amazon-killer in your browser

• Publishers & Media: Content at the speed of thought

• Creators & Influencers: One person, million-person reach

• Freelancers: David finally gets Goliath's weapons

• Implementation: Your roadmap to agent deployment

• Marketing & Sales Roles: Specific playbooks for marketers, media buyers, social media managers, and sales teams

• Entrepreneurs as Strategic Leaders: Using agents as your AI chief of staff for strategy and R&D

Let’s get into it.

What is ChatGPT Agent?

OpenAI has thrown their hat in the agent ring and competing directly with Manus and Genspark, with their new agent:

ChatGPT Agent is not a chatbot.

It's an autonomous digital employee that can use a computer like a human, make decisions like a human, and complete complex tasks... perhaps better than most humans.

Here’s what you need to know (and do) as an online entrepreneur.

How does it compare to Manus and Genspark? 

Let Manus tell you:

And here’s Genspark:

Now, let’s go deeper.

The Technical Architecture

This isn't just GPT with extra features bolted on. OpenAI built an entirely new system that combines multiple AI models working in concert.

The Agent Stack:

• Goal Understanding Layer: Natural language processing that interprets your high-level objectives

• Task Planning System: Breaks down complex goals into executable steps with dependencies

• Tool Orchestration: Native access to Python interpreter, web browsers, file systems, and APIs

• Decision Engine: Evaluates options, makes choices, handles errors, and adapts strategies

• Memory System: Maintains context across sessions (though currently limited for safety)

• Virtual Computer: Yes, it literally has its own computer interface to work with

Think of it as giving AI its own laptop and teaching it to use every application you use—except it learns instantly and never forgets.

Here's What It Actually Does

Let me show you with real examples from OpenAI's demo:

Wedding Planning Scenario: What you say: "I need to prepare for Sarah's wedding next month in Miami."

What Agent does:

• Researches the venue and typical weather for that time of year

• Checks the dress code from the invitation

• Browses clothing sites for appropriate outfits within your budget

• Compares flight options and books the best one

• Finds hotels near the venue with availability

• Researches the couple's registry and selects a thoughtful gift

• Creates a complete itinerary with all confirmations

• Total time: 15-20 minutes of autonomous work

Business Intelligence Example: During the demo, Agent analyzed three competing companies:

• Scraped public data from multiple sources

• Analyzed market positioning and pricing strategies

• Identified recent strategic moves and announcements

• Created a professional slide deck with visualizations

• Generated actionable competitive insights

That used to be maybe a $5,000 consulting project. 

Now it's a Thursday afternoon task for your AI.

Date Night Automation: The seemingly simple becomes powerful:

• Access your Google Calendar to find free evenings

• Cross-references with your partner's availability

• Checks OpenTable for restaurant reservations

• Considers your dietary preferences and favorite cuisines

• Books the perfect table at the right time

• Adds it to both calendars with details

The Integration Ecosystem

Here's what makes Agent powerful: 

It connects to tools you already use, similar to what Manus and Genspark have been offering,

Current Integrations:

• Gmail (read, compose, send)

• Google Calendar (check availability, create events)

• GitHub (code management, pull requests)

• OpenTable (restaurant reservations)

• Shopping sites (product research, price comparison)

• Travel platforms (flight and hotel booking)

• Any website through its browser

How It Compares:

• Manus: Has been doing multi-app workflows with broader app support

• Genspark: Focuses on deep research and planning capabilities

• ChatGPT Agent: Leverages OpenAI's ecosystem and existing user base

Coming Soon:

• Slack, Microsoft Teams

• CRM systems

• Project management tools

• Financial platforms (with restrictions)

• Custom API integrations

The Performance Reality Check

Let's cut through the hype with real numbers:

Academic Benchmarks:

• Humanity's Last Exam: 41.6% (double the previous best)

• FrontierMath: 27.4% with tools (versus 6.3% for o4-mini)

• Complex Reasoning: Shows PhD-level performance in certain domains

But here's what matters more—early user reports from Reddit and real-world testing:

• Task completion accuracy: ~50% without human oversight

• Excel report generation: 95-98% accurate (meaning 2-5% errors)

• Complex multi-step tasks: 15-30 minutes to complete

• Website navigation: Successfully handles most modern web apps

• API integration: Reliable when properly configured

Translation: It's not perfect. But it's good enough to transform your business.

What Makes This Different

Previous AI tools were like smart calculators. You input, they output. Done.

ChatGPT Agent is like hiring a competent remote worker who:

• Understands context and nuance

• Breaks down complex goals into tasks

• Uses tools and browsers autonomously

• Adapts when things go wrong

• Keeps working until the job is done

Core Capabilities in Detail:

Goal Parsing:

• Understands implicit requirements (you don't have to spell everything out)

• Infers constraints from context ("within budget" means checking your usual spending)

• Handles ambiguity intelligently ("find a good restaurant" considers your preferences)

Dynamic Planning:

• Creates multi-step plans with proper sequencing

• Adjusts when steps fail (website down? Try another)

• Optimizes for efficiency (parallel tasks when possible)

• Learns from mistakes within the session

Tool Integration:

• Native Python for calculations and data processing

• Full web browser with ability to click, type, and navigate

• File system access for reading/writing documents

• API calls to external services

• Screenshot and vision capabilities for understanding interfaces

Autonomous Operation:

• Continues working through obstacles

• Handles CAPTCHAs and basic authentication

• Manages pop-ups and cookie banners

• Retries failed operations with different approaches

• Knows when to ask for clarification vs. making reasonable assumptions

The key distinction? Persistence.

Traditional AI quits after each response. Agent keeps going until the mission is complete.

And here's the kicker: This is version 1.0. The training wheels version. Imagine what's coming.

The Safety Dance: What OpenAI's Warnings Really Mean

OpenAI isn't messing around with safety this time. 

They've classified Agent as "high capability" in biological and chemical weapon domains.

Yeah, you read that right.

But what does this mean for your business?

The Real Risks

Sam Altman himself warned against prompts like: "Look at my emails overnight and do whatever you need to do to address them."

Why? Because Agent could:

• Fall for phishing attempts and leak your data

• Make irreversible decisions you didn't intend

• Access systems you forgot were connected

• Execute actions based on malicious instructions

The Current Restrictions:

• Memory feature disabled (to prevent data theft through prompt injection)

• Financial transactions blocked "for now"

• "Watch Mode" for financial sites—Agent stops if you leave the tab

• Permission requests before sending emails or making bookings

What This Means for Your Business

Don't let the warnings scare you off. Just be smart:

1. Start with low-stakes tasks (research, analysis, content drafts)

2. Limit access carefully (create separate accounts with minimal permissions)

3. Review before execution (especially for customer-facing actions)

4. Keep sensitive data isolated (financial info, customer databases)

5. Test in sandboxes first (not on your production systems)

The businesses that win will be those that respect the power while harnessing it effectively.

The Access Game

Here's who can play:

• Pro Subscribers ($200/month): 400 messages monthly

• Plus and Team Subscribers: Rolling access with limits

• Enterprise and Education: Coming summer 2025

• Europe: No timeline (regulatory red tape)

To access: Select "agent mode" from ChatGPT's dropdown or type "/agent"

Industry Transformation: Why This is Klarna x 1000

Remember when Klarna announced their AI handled two-thirds of customer service (equivalent to 700 employees) in just one month?

Since then, the agent landscape has exploded. And Klarna hired some humans back.

But the tech has improved ever since.

The Real Competitive Landscape

OpenAI isn't first to this party. Not even close:

• Manus: Already shipping agents that can browse, take screenshots, and execute complex multi-app workflows

• Genspark: Their Auto Agent has been helping users with everything from dinner planning to travel research

• Anthropic: Released "Computer Use" for Claude months ago

• Google: Scrambling to catch up with agent development

• Dozens of Startups: Building specialized agents for specific use cases

But here's why OpenAI's entry matters: Market validation.

When the company behind ChatGPT (with 200 million weekly users) launches agents, it signals to every business that this technology is ready for mainstream adoption.

What's Really at Stake

The innovators showed us what's possible. OpenAI is making it accessible.

Some experts predict agents will transform traditional SaaS. Why navigate complex interfaces when agents can hit APIs directly? Why pay for seats when one agent can do the work of ten employees?

Business Models Already Changing:

• AI agent customization services (thanks to early movers like Manus)

• Agent monitoring platforms (emerging from the Genspark ecosystem)

• Human-AI hybrid delivery models

• Agent-powered marketplaces

The businesses that adapt will thrive. 

The question is which agent platform fits your needs best.

How Online Entrepreneurs Can Use ChatGPT Agent

Lots of opportunities. Let’s take a look.

SaaS Companies: From Software Provider to Intelligence Platform

If you run a SaaS company, pay attention. Your entire business model is about to evolve.

The Fundamental Shift

Your customers don't want software. They want outcomes. And now agents can deliver those outcomes better than human-operated interfaces.

Traditional SaaS Model:

• Sell access to software

• Train users on features

• Hope they find value

• Fight churn with more features

Agent-Enhanced SaaS Model:

• Sell intelligent outcomes

• Agents handle complexity

• Guaranteed value delivery

• Retention through dependency

Customer Success Revolution

Forget quarterly business reviews and check-in calls. Your agent can:

Monitor Every Customer Continuously:

• Track usage patterns in real-time

• Identify drop-offs before they happen

• Predict churn with scary accuracy

• Intervene automatically with personalized solutions

Example: Customer hasn't logged in for 10 days? Agent analyzes their history, identifies likely causes, drafts personalized re-engagement campaign, and executes—all while you sleep.

Product Development Intelligence

Stop guessing what features to build:

Your Agent Army Can:

• Analyze every support ticket for feature requests

• Monitor competitor launches and customer reactions

• Track user behavior to identify friction points

• Generate feature specs based on actual usage data

• Run sophisticated A/B tests autonomously

Real-World Impact: A CRM company could deploy agents to automatically update contact information by monitoring social media and company websites, analyze email patterns to score leads, generate outreach messages, and predict deal probability.

The New Competitive Moat

Early SaaS adopters of agent technology will create insurmountable advantages:

• Operational Efficiency: Same team serves 10x more customers

• Customer Stickiness: Agents learn customer preferences, making switching painful

• Market Expansion: Profitably serve smaller customers through automation

• Innovation Speed: Ship features based on real-time intelligence

Agencies: How to Compete When Everyone Has an Army

Your clients are about to realize they can hire agents instead of you. Unless you become the agent orchestrator they can't live without.

The Agency Apocalypse... Or Renaissance?

The Threat:

• Clients can deploy agents for $200/month

• Agents work 24/7 without complaints

• No account management drama

• Direct campaign optimization

The Opportunity:

• Become the strategic brain agents can't replace

• Orchestrate agent armies for unprecedented results

• Handle 10x more clients with same headcount

• Command premium prices for agent-enhanced services

Campaign Management Revolution

Your agents can monitor and optimize campaigns across every platform simultaneously:

24/7 Optimization Machine:

• Real-time bid adjustments across all platforms

• Creative testing at massive scale

• Budget reallocation based on performance

• Competitive response in minutes, not days

Cross-Platform Orchestration:

• Unified messaging across all channels

• Sequential storytelling that actually works

• Attribution tracking that makes sense

• Predictive performance modeling

Example: Agent detects competitor launching sale → Analyzes impact potential → Adjusts your client's bids → Creates response creative → Launches counter-campaign → All in 30 minutes at 3 AM.

Content Creation at Scale

Stop choosing between quality and quantity:

Agent-Powered Content Factory:

• Generate 100 blog post variations from one idea

• Adapt content for every platform automatically

• Maintain brand voice across all pieces

• SEO optimization that actually ranks

But here's the key: Agents handle production. You handle strategy and creativity.

New Service Offerings

• AI Implementation Consulting: Help clients deploy their own agents

• Agent Orchestra Conductor: Manage client's agent workforce

• Intelligence as a Service: Provide agent-gathered market insights

• Automated Growth Systems: Build self-improving marketing machines

The Agency Survival Guide

Winners will:

• Position as AI-powered agencies immediately

• Develop proprietary agent workflows

• Create barriers through specialized knowledge

• Focus on strategy over execution

Losers will:

• Ignore the shift

• Compete on price with agents

• Focus on tasks agents do better

• Wait for clients to figure it out first

E-commerce Businesses: The Amazon-Killer in Your Browser

E-commerce entrepreneurs, you just got handed the keys to compete with Amazon. Use them wisely.

Customer Service That Never Sleeps

Deploy agents to deliver Amazon-level service regardless of your size:

Intelligent Support System:

• Answer questions before customers ask them

• Process returns without human intervention

• Track orders and proactively communicate

• Handle complex technical support

• Manage billing inquiries automatically

Real Example: Customer browsing repeatedly without buying? Agent analyzes behavior → Identifies hesitation point → Sends personalized email addressing exact concern → Includes limited-time offer → Conversion.

Inventory Intelligence

Stop guessing what to stock:

Predictive Inventory Management:

• Forecast demand with frightening accuracy

• Auto-generate purchase orders at optimal times

• Coordinate with suppliers autonomously

• Identify dead stock before it dies

• Optimize across multiple sales channels

Supply Chain Orchestration:

• Monitor supplier performance continuously

• Negotiate terms based on data

• Manage international documentation

• Predict and prevent disruptions

• Coordinate logistics automatically

Marketing That Prints Money

Personalization at Scale:

• Individual marketing for every customer

• Dynamic pricing based on behavior

• Abandoned cart recovery that actually works

• Cross-sell/upsell at perfect moments

• Seasonal campaigns on autopilot

Platform Domination:

• Optimize listings across all marketplaces

• Coordinate inventory in real-time

• Manage reviews and responses

• Monitor competitor moves

• Adjust strategies automatically

Publishers & Media: Content at the Speed of Thought

Publishers, your industry just got its iPhone moment. Embrace it or become Blockbuster.

Editorial Workflow Transformation

Intelligent Content Creation:

• Monitor trending topics across all platforms

• Generate initial drafts for breaking news

• Adapt content for every platform

• Optimize headlines in real-time

• Fact-check automatically

Quality at Scale:

• Maintain voice consistency across writers

• Enforce style guides automatically

• Flag potential legal issues

• Ensure originality

• Track performance predictively

Audience Intelligence

Personalization That Works:

• Individual content recommendations

• Dynamic paywall optimization

• Predictive churn prevention

• Engagement pattern analysis

• Community management at scale

Revenue Optimization:

• Price content based on value

• Maximize ad revenue without destroying UX

• Identify sponsorship opportunities

• Convert readers to subscribers

• Retain subscribers intelligently

The Publishing Playbook

Focus agents on:

1. Routine news coverage

2. Research and fact-checking

3. Multi-platform adaptation

4. Audience analysis

5. Revenue optimization

Keep humans for:

1. Investigation and analysis

2. Creative storytelling

3. Strategic decisions

4. Relationship building

5. Ethical oversight

Creators & Influencers: One Person, Million-Person Reach

Creators, you just became a media company. No staff required.

Content Production Explosion

Multi-Platform Domination:

• Create once, adapt everywhere

• Platform-specific optimization

• Trend-jacking at light speed

• Never miss a posting window

• Consistent quality at scale

Research and Ideation:

• Never run out of ideas

• Spot trends before they peak

• Analyze competitor strategies

• Find content gaps

• Plan seasons in advance

Audience Engagement at Scale

Community Management:

• Respond to every meaningful comment

• Identify and nurture super fans

• Create personalized experiences

• Moderate intelligently

• Build real relationships

Business Operations:

• Handle sponsorship negotiations

• Manage product launches

• Process customer service

• Track finances automatically

• Scale without burning out

The Creator Transformation

Before Agents:

• Choose between creating and engaging

• Burn out from constant pressure

• Miss opportunities while sleeping

• Limited by human capacity

With Agents:

• Create while agents engage

• Maintain sustainable pace

• Capitalize on every opportunity

• Scale beyond human limits

Freelancers: David Finally Gets Goliath's Weapons

Freelancers, you can now compete with agencies 100x your size. Here's how.

Business Development on Autopilot

Lead Generation Machine:

• Research prospects automatically

• Personalize outreach at scale

• Follow up persistently

• Qualify leads intelligently

• Book meetings autonomously

Proposal Domination:

• Research competitor offerings

• Generate custom proposals

• Calculate optimal pricing

• Project ROI convincingly

• Close deals faster

Service Delivery Excellence

Project Management:

• Plan projects intelligently

• Track progress automatically

• Communicate status proactively

• Manage scope professionally

• Deliver consistently

Quality Enhancement:

• Maintain high standards

• Create reusable frameworks

• Document best practices

• Improve continuously

• Scale without sacrificing quality

The Freelancer Evolution

Transform from solo practitioner to AI-enhanced consultancy:

• Month 1: Automate admin tasks

• Month 2-3: Enhance service delivery

• Month 4-6: Scale lead generation

• Month 7+: Build product offerings

Marketing & Sales Roles: Your New AI Co-Worker

Let's get specific about how different marketing and sales professionals can use agents right now. 

Because while we've talked about agencies and businesses, individual practitioners need tactical applications.

Marketers: From Campaign Chaos to Orchestrated Intelligence

Campaign Research and Planning:

• Deploy agents to analyze competitor campaigns across all channels

• Research audience behavior patterns and content preferences

• Generate campaign concepts based on market gaps

• Create detailed campaign calendars with platform-specific strategies

• Build buyer personas from actual online conversations

Content Strategy Execution:

• Transform one core idea into 20+ pieces of platform-specific content

• Generate A/B test variations for every campaign element

• Create SEO-optimized content clusters around target keywords

• Develop email nurture sequences personalized to buyer journey stages

• Build evergreen content libraries that compound value

Performance Analysis:

• Automate weekly performance reports across all channels

• Identify underperforming campaigns before they waste budget

• Track competitor moves and market shifts in real-time

• Generate optimization recommendations based on data patterns

• Create executive-ready dashboards and insights

Real Example: A B2B marketer uses Agent to monitor LinkedIn for pain points in their target industry, automatically generates content addressing those specific issues, adapts it for email/blog/social, and tracks which messages resonate most, all while they focus on strategy and relationships.

Media Buyers: Precision Targeting Meets Autonomous Optimization

Campaign Setup and Structure:

• Research and build audience segments across platforms

• Generate hundreds of ad variations for testing

• Create platform-specific creative adaptations

• Build lookalike audiences from customer data analysis

• Structure campaigns for maximum learning efficiency

Real-Time Optimization:

• Monitor campaign performance across all platforms simultaneously

• Adjust bids and budgets based on performance thresholds

• Pause underperforming ads before they drain budget

• Scale winning combinations aggressively

• Rebalance platform mix based on attribution data

Competitive Intelligence:

• Track competitor ad strategies and creative approaches

• Monitor their landing pages and offer changes

• Analyze their targeting patterns through ad libraries

• Identify market gaps they're missing

• Generate counter-strategies in hours, not days

Advanced Applications:

• Create dynamic landing pages that match ad messaging

• Build custom scripts for platform automation

• Generate performance prediction models

• Automate client reporting with insights, not just data

• Develop new audience hypotheses from performance patterns

Real Example: A media buyer managing 20+ clients uses agents to monitor all campaigns 24/7, automatically pausing ads that breach CPA thresholds, reallocating budget to winners, and generating client reports that explain the "why" behind performance changes, freeing them to focus on strategy and creative innovation.

Social Media Managers: From Content Hamster Wheel to Strategic Influence

Content Creation at Scale:

• Transform one piece of content into platform-native versions

• Generate captions that match each platform's best practices

• Create content calendars based on trending topics and audience activity

• Design visual content briefs for graphic designers

• Build engagement-driving content series and themes

Community Management Evolution:

• Monitor brand mentions across all platforms simultaneously

• Respond to common questions with personalized answers

• Identify and nurture brand advocates automatically

• Flag critical issues for immediate human attention

• Track sentiment trends and conversation themes

Influencer and Partnership Management:

• Research and qualify potential influencer partners

• Analyze their audience authenticity and engagement quality

• Track campaign performance across influencer content

• Generate partnership proposals and contracts

• Monitor compliance with brand guidelines

Analytics That Actually Matter:

• Move beyond vanity metrics to business impact

• Track customer journey from social to purchase

• Identify which content drives real engagement vs. empty likes

• Generate competitor benchmarking reports

• Create C-suite ready social ROI analysis

Real Example: A social media manager handles 5 brand accounts by using agents to adapt hero content across all platforms, monitor conversations for engagement opportunities, and generate weekly performance insights—while they focus on community building and creative strategy.

Sales Development: From Cold Calling to Warm Intelligence

Lead Research and Qualification:

• Deep research on prospects before any outreach

• Identify trigger events (funding, hiring, expansion)

• Map organizational structure and decision makers

• Analyze their current tech stack and potential gaps

• Score leads based on fit and timing signals

Personalized Outreach at Scale:

• Generate truly personalized outreach based on research

• Create multi-touch sequences that adapt to responses

• Time outreach based on prospect's online activity

• A/B test messaging approaches automatically

• Build rapport through relevant content sharing

Meeting Preparation:

• Research attendees and their backgrounds

• Analyze their company's recent initiatives

• Prepare relevant case studies and talking points

• Generate potential objections and responses

• Create customized demo flows

Pipeline Intelligence:

• Track engagement across all touchpoints

• Identify deals at risk before they go cold

• Suggest next best actions for each prospect

• Automate follow-up for specific trigger events

• Generate accurate pipeline forecasts

Account Executives: From Relationship Management to Revenue Intelligence

Deal Strategy:

• Analyze stakeholder dynamics and influence patterns

• Research competitive presence in the account

• Identify expansion opportunities within existing accounts

• Generate negotiation strategies based on historical data

• Create business cases tailored to their specific metrics

Proposal Automation:

• Generate customized proposals in minutes, not hours

• Include relevant case studies automatically

• Create ROI projections based on their data

• Build implementation timelines

• Track proposal engagement and follow up intelligently

Entrepreneurs as Strategic Leaders: Your AI Chief of Staff

As an entrepreneur, you're deploying them as strategic assets.

Here's how to leverage agent technology at the leadership level.

Strategic Planning and Decision Support

Market Intelligence Command Center:

• Deploy agents to continuously monitor your competitive landscape

• Track industry trends, regulatory changes, and market shifts

• Analyze customer sentiment across all channels

• Identify emerging opportunities before competitors

• Generate strategic options based on market dynamics

R&D and Innovation Pipeline:

• Research emerging technologies relevant to your business

• Analyze patent filings and academic research in your space

• Generate new product ideas based on market gaps

• Test concept viability through market research

• Build innovation roadmaps with resource requirements

Financial Strategy and Modeling:

• Create complex financial models and scenarios

• Analyze unit economics across different customer segments

• Generate fundraising materials and investor updates

• Monitor cash flow and identify optimization opportunities

• Build acquisition target lists and initial analysis

Real Example: A SaaS founder uses agents to monitor all competitor product launches, analyze customer feedback across the industry, and generate monthly strategy briefs that identify market opportunities—essentially having a strategy consulting team for $200/month.

Organizational Intelligence

Team Performance and Optimization:

• Analyze communication patterns to identify bottlenecks

• Monitor project velocity and resource allocation

• Generate skills gap analysis and training recommendations

• Create organizational health dashboards

• Identify high-performer patterns for better hiring

Culture and Communication:

• Generate internal communications that maintain culture

• Create onboarding materials that scale your vision

• Monitor team sentiment through communication analysis

• Build knowledge bases that capture institutional knowledge

• Develop training programs based on performance data

Venture Building and Scaling

New Venture Validation:

• Research market size and competitive dynamics

• Analyze customer pain points through online research

• Generate business model variations and test assumptions

• Create pitch decks and executive summaries

• Build financial projections and funding strategies

Scaling Operations:

• Identify automation opportunities across the business

• Generate SOPs and process documentation

• Create hiring plans based on growth projections

• Build partnership strategies and outreach

• Develop internationalization roadmaps

Board and Investor Relations:

• Generate board meeting materials and reports

• Create investor updates with key metrics and narratives

• Prepare for investor meetings with comprehensive briefs

• Track investor sentiment and market conditions

• Build scenario planning for strategic discussions

The CEO's Agent Playbook

Daily Intelligence Briefing - Configure agents to deliver:

• Competitive moves and market changes

• Key customer feedback and issues

• Team performance and blockers

• Financial metrics and anomalies

• Strategic opportunities to consider

Decision Augmentation - Before major decisions:

• Research all angles and stakeholders

• Generate option analysis with pros/cons

• Model potential outcomes and risks

• Gather relevant case studies and precedents

• Create implementation plans for chosen path

Time Multiplication - Focus on what only you can do:

• Let agents handle research and analysis

• Automate routine communications and updates

• Delegate information gathering and synthesis

• Focus on relationships and strategic thinking

• Spend time on vision and culture

Real Example: An e-commerce CEO uses agents to generate daily competitive intelligence briefs, automate investor updates, research expansion markets, and model different growth scenarios, freeing up 15+ hours per week for strategic work and team development.

The Strategic Advantage

The entrepreneurs who win will be those who deploy agents as strategic assets:

• Information Advantage: Know more, faster than competitors

• Decision Velocity: Make better decisions with comprehensive analysis

• Execution Speed: Implement strategies while competitors plan

• Resource Leverage: Achieve enterprise capabilities with startup resources

• Learning Loops: Continuously improve through agent-gathered intelligence

The question is whether you'll use them tactically or strategically. 

The choice defines whether you're playing catch-up or setting the pace.

We’re at an interesting moment.

Not a revolution.

Those already happened when Manus shipped their first agent, when Genspark made Auto Agent available to everyone, when Anthropic gave Claude the ability to use computers.

This is a validation moment.

When OpenAI finally ships agents, it's an acknowledgement.

The future that startups have been building is now the present that everyone must face.

The businesses that thrive won't necessarily be those using OpenAI's agents. 

They might be using Manus for complex workflows, Genspark for research tasks, or building custom solutions.

The platform matters less than the decision to embrace agent technology at all.

Isn’t it crazy that building and selling an Agent with these capabilities is not an unfair advantage or moat?

All of these are comparable. None of them stand out. Features and functions can easily be copied.

Nuts, right?

They can perform at human-level capabilites and none of them are “winning”.

Also, I don’t believe the job replacement hype. Why fire people when you can make them 10x more effective and productive? Bionic Business is always about amplifying human potential to previously difficult levels. 

One entrepreneur with the right agent setup can now compete with entire departments. Small teams can deliver enterprise-scale solutions.

But here's what matters: 

The early adopters aren't waiting for OpenAI.

They've been building with Manus, experimenting with Genspark, pushing boundaries with Claude. They've been learning what works, what doesn't, and how to blend human creativity with agent capability.

The question isn't whether agents will transform business. That's already happening. 

The question is whether you'll be part of the transformation or a casualty of it.

Years from now, we won't remember July 17, 2025, as the day everything changed. 

We'll remember it as the day the mainstream finally caught up to what the innovators already knew:

The age of AI agents isn't coming. It's here. It's been here.

The agents are already deployed. The war isn't beginning. It's well underway.

The only question is: 

Have you chosen your weapons?

See you soon,
Sam Woods
The Editor

P.S. While everyone's excited about ChatGPT Agent, the smart money is comparing all available options. Check out what Manus and Genspark have been shipping. You might be surprised at what's already possible.