3 Simple Side Hustles Enabled by OpenAI's Operator - Here's How to Begin

OpenAI's recent launch of Operator, an AI agent designed to handle tasks on the web, has caught my attention—and my wallet, after shelling out $200 for a subscription. But trust me, this isn't just another tool; it's a potential game-changer for businesses, and I'm about to spill the beans on how my ecom business leverages it to rake in millions. Brace yourself, because my business partner might not be too thrilled about this.

Before we dive in, let me introduce myself. I'm Lester, but you can call me Les. I've got a successful startup exit under my belt, and now I'm the executive chair for a group of ecom brands. At heart, though, I'm a performance marketer who thrives on data and insights. Our business operates more like a data company than a typical ecom brand, and our secret sauce is combining data with revenue-generating ideas.

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What is Operator and Why It's a Game Changer

Operator is designed for US-based PRO users and can handle browser activities like filling out forms, ordering groceries, and even creating memes. It interacts with web pages by clicking, typing, and scrolling, just like a human would. The magic behind Operator is a new AI model called Computer Using Agent (CUA), powered by GPT-4's vision and advanced reasoning capabilities, which allows it to understand what's happening on a website.

Now, I know what you're thinking: $200 a month is steep, especially compared to the $20 plan. But here's the thing—I don't compare it to the cheaper plan; I look at the time and resources it saves me. My day job involves validating ideas, browsing different websites, and tracking trends, which can be time-consuming and costly, whether I do it myself or hire someone. Operator automates these mundane tasks, freeing up my time to focus on what matters most.

How I Use Operator

Here comes the part where I might get in hot water with my biz partner. The core of any business is arbitrage—sourcing a product at a lower cost and selling it at a higher price, or offering a service where the delivery cost is lower than the price charged. We use Amazon not just to buy but to validate product ideas.

Take, for instance, our funny candle idea. We head to Amazon to see if it's already out there. If it is, we note the product name, price, and sales rank. This information is crucial for our arbitrage strategy, where we source the product and offer an improved version to our audience.

I've instructed Operator to do my product research for me. Here's the exact prompt I used: "I need you to go to www.amazon.com and search 'funny candles.' I then need you to tell me the price and name of each listing. Then, I need you to tell me the sales rank for the first 48 product listings." After a bit of finessing and dealing with a CAPTCHA, Operator delivered exactly what I needed, freeing up my time to focus on customer interactions.

The Good, the Bad, and the Kind of Ugly

The Good 👍

I love the independence it gives me. No waiting around for coworkers or developers. I can just speak, and it appears—no need for lengthy briefs or endless emails. Plus, it's centralized, so I don't need multiple apps and integrations to get things done.

The Bad 👎

It's not perfect. Being AI, it sometimes hallucinates or provides incorrect information. It can be slow, but honestly, it's still faster than me. And it asks for too many confirmations, which can waste time. I've turned on notifications to see if that helps.

The Kind of Ugly 🥴

The real challenge is thinking of even more creative ways to use it. I'm not talking about everyday tasks like grocery shopping; I mean using it to 10x my business while I'm on vacation. The limitation isn't Operator itself but our imagination in using it.

How to Make Money with OpenAI Operator

With any new technology, there are always people who need help implementing it or don't have the time to do it themselves. This presents an opportunity to build a business around these scenarios.

Here are three ways you can use Operator to generate income:

1. AI Automation as a Service

Offer automation services to businesses that want to streamline repetitive tasks like data entry, email responses, or customer support.

2. AI-Powered Lead Generation and Sales Automation

Use Operator to send personalized messages to potential leads on LinkedIn about your product or service.

3. AI-Powered E-commerce

Use Operator to automatically list, update, and optimize product listings on platforms like eBay, Amazon, or Shopify.

The real opportunity lies in integrating Operator into your existing workflow, making you more efficient and giving you back your time. It's all about using your imagination to leverage this tool to its full potential.

So, is Operator worth it? It depends on how you use it. If you're just using it to book an Airbnb, the $200 price tag might be hard to justify. But if you use it effectively, it could become one of the best assets in your business toolkit by automating repetitive tasks. However, it's not a magic fix—you still need to build a strong business by solving real problems and maintaining solid unit economics.

I'm optimistic about Operator as a business tool and excited to see where it goes. If you're interested in learning more about leveraging AI or emerging tech, check out my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts. It's packed with what's working in the AI world, actionable insights, and the occasional pep talk. If this sounds like your jam and you want to be besties forever, click here to sign up. It's totally free.