OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence research organization, has announced the launch of new tools designed to help developers build AI agents. The Responses API and Agents SDK are aimed at providing building blocks for developers to create agents that can search the web, dig through files, and perform tasks on a computer on their behalf.

The Responses API comes equipped with a web search tool built on the same model used by ChatGPT, allowing developers to access real-time information and citations from the web. Additionally, it features a computer-use feature that utilizes OpenAI's Operator model to perform tasks on a user's behalf. The API also includes a tool to search through large volumes of documents, which can be particularly useful for customer support agents sifting through FAQs or legal assistants locating previous cases.

Olivier Godement, the head of product for the OpenAI platform, emphasized the importance of providing developers with the necessary foundations to build agents tailored to their specific use cases. "There are some agents that we will be able to build ourselves, like Deep Research and Operator," Godement said. "But the world is so complex, there are so many industries and use cases… and so we're super excited to provide those foundations, those building blocks for developers to build the best agents for their use case, their needs."

In addition to the Responses API, OpenAI also introduced the Agents SDK, which enables developers to "orchestrate" the workflow of AI agents. According to Nikunj Handa, a product manager for OpenAI's API team, the Agents SDK allows multiple atomic units to work together to solve more complicated tasks, making it easier for developers to manage their agents and ensure they work toward a single goal.

The rollout of these new tools builds upon OpenAI's existing offerings, including the Chat Completions API, which allows developers to build AI tools that provide responses to users' queries. Notably, OpenAI plans to replace its Assistants API with the Responses API in mid-2026, incorporating key improvements based on developer feedback.

The launch of these new tools marks a significant step forward in the development of AI agents, which are increasingly seen as the future of artificial intelligence. By providing developers with the necessary building blocks, OpenAI is empowering the creation of more sophisticated and capable AI agents that can revolutionize various industries and use cases.

As the AI landscape continues to evolve, OpenAI's new tools are poised to play a critical role in shaping the future of AI development. With the Responses API and Agents SDK, developers now have the opportunity to create AI agents that can perform complex tasks, making them an essential component of various industries and applications.