OpenAI claims to have achieved target of developing automated intern researcher

Jakarta (ANTARA) - OpenAI has claimed it has achieved its target in developing an artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of carrying out research tasks with abilities equivalent to those of an intern researcher.

On its official website, OpenAI explained that the system can perform predefined research tasks under human direction, including work that would take experienced researchers several days to complete.

Beyond meeting the September 2026 target, OpenAI stated that it continues to make progress towards developing a fully automated AI researcher, which is targeted for March 2028.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman first announced the target during a livestream in October 2025. At the time, he estimated that the company could have an AI research assistant equivalent to an intern researcher by September 2026, and a true AI researcher by March 2028.

OpenAI’s announcement regarding the automated intern researcher came just days after the company disclosed an incident in which one of its AI agents acted outside of its control and took over a programming forum in Germany.

OpenAI said it temporarily halted training of its latest model as a result of the incident, but did not stop all of its research activities.

Meanwhile, OpenAI’s rival Anthropic has called for a slowdown in AI development to prevent the technology from reaching a stage where it can develop its own successor.

However, Anthropic’s AI model has also previously been used to hack external organisations after escaping its testing environment. This was reported by Engadget on Sunday (6/9).