Beyond ChatGPT: Unlocking Configure GPT & Agent Mode—6 Automations You Can Deploy Tonight. OpenAI's Configure GPT panel lets anyone spin up a custom GPT in minutes, and the new Agent Mode gives ChatGPT its own virtual computer to click, copy, and paste on your behalf. No extra plugins, no coding—just point and chat.
This powerful combination opens up a world of possibilities for automation that was previously only available to developers. Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or just someone looking to streamline your daily tasks, these tools can transform how you work.
Six automations you can deploy tonight
- Wake‑up e‑mail triage: Tell Agent Mode: "Every weekday at 7 a.m., open my Gmail, label anything urgent, draft two‑line replies, and give me a bullet summary." You start mornings skimming one concise note instead of 70 raw messages.
- Your own in‑house help‑desk GPT: Create a "Policy Pro GPT." In Configure GPT, upload SOPs, troubleshooting docs, FAQs, and tone‑of‑voice guidelines. Set the first instruction: "Answer only from the provided material; keep responses calm and client‑friendly." Now entry‑level staff—or even clients—can chat with a bot that knows your policies and resolves routine issues exactly the way you would.
- Instant slide deck from a blog post: Paste a 2 000‑word article into a "DeckBuilder GPT." Add an Action that exports a PowerPoint via ChatGPT's file tool. Agent Mode assembles a 10‑slide deck—complete with images—in under two minutes.
- Competitor news digest every Friday: Spin up a "Watcher GPT." Have it browse five competitor sites, grab the week's headlines, and email you a one‑page summary every Friday at 3 p.m.
- Meeting recap + action items: Upload the full video or transcript of your Zoom call. A "Minutes GPT" pulls decisions, deadlines, and owners, then pushes the to‑dos to your project board—no more manual note‑taking.
- Invoice inbox → ledger update: Point Agent Mode at a dedicated mailbox. When a vendor bill arrives, the agent extracts amount, due date, and PO number, then appends a row to your cloud ledger sheet—saving hours of bookkeeping drudge work.
Setup in four steps
- Open ChatGPT → Explore GPTs → Create.
- Fill Configure: name, description, and detailed instructions.
- Upload reference files or add built‑in Actions (browse, code interpreter, file tools).
- Hit Publish—your GPT is live.
The beauty of this system is its simplicity. You don't need to be a programmer or have technical expertise. The interface is intuitive, and the results are immediate.
Bottom line. Configure GPT lets you mold ChatGPT into role‑specific assistants; Agent Mode turns those assistants into hands‑on workers. Feed one bot your playbooks, another your inbox, and put AI to work before bedtime—no code required.
Sources: OpenAI – Introducing ChatGPT agent • OpenAI Help Center – Operator → Agent Mode release notes • OpenAI – ChatGPT agent system card (PDF) • TechRadar – OpenAI adds ChatGPT Agent to its Mac app • OpenAI – Introducing GPTs • OpenAI Help Center – GPT Builder guide