the latest release of openai's "operator" has really got me thinking about the significant changes it could bring. if ai can automate browser behavior, jobs like personal assistants and non progrmatic data entry, which involve tasks like filling out forms and booking appointments, are at immediate risk. it’s likely to improve and could even replace those who spend their days working in excel by automating tasks in google sheets.

browser automation isn't new. programmers like myself have been using tools like puppeteer and playwright for automatic scraping and performing actions in the browser as a human would. however, with the new operator feature soon available to everyone, even those who aren’t tech-savvy will be able to perform the same tasks, leveling the playing field once again. this is a positive development for all of us.

you might think there are limitations to what this ai can do, especially with complex programs. while that may be true currently, there are better solutions than just automating browser activities. you’re probably aware of zapier and how it integrates apps that typically don’t have native integrations.

this new approach i am about to show you works similarly but on a more advanced level.

here’s my hypothesis: there will be an era of “super employees” who can automate at least half of their work and half of their coworkers’ work. they could potentially get their coworkers laid off and justify a 15%-50% pay raise by managing the automated systems they created.

what i mean is that those who learn to automate their tasks could also automate the tasks of someone else in the same job position. this would reduce the workload for both parties equally. if the remaining tasks can be handled by one person, layoffs are bound to happen. it’s a race to see who can learn to automate first.

creating ai systems might seem straightforward for your it department, but they don’t understand the nuances of your daily work. they aren’t aware of the problems you face or the on-the-fly decisions you need to make. you know all this. you can create the best evolving system to handle these tasks. think of yourself as a robot. evaluate what you do programmatically.

• are you copying and pasting the same thing between apps every day?
• are you using a proven template filled with varying content?
• do you send similar emails to customers or create support tickets for the same issues daily?
• assess your behavior to determine what can be automated and enhanced with ai.

once you’ve done this, consider how you’re using ai daily. simply copying and pasting from chatgpt is not the most productive use of the tool. there are more efficient methods that can automate outputs from the dynamic prompts you use daily into the apps you’re working with. while you might be familiar with zapier, it’s not the best tool for automating your tasks, especially considering the long-term costs for simple one or two-step zaps.

let me introduce three open-source apps that can do what zapier does but much more effectively:

n8n, activepieces, and botpress

these apps are open-source, meaning you can self-host them on your pc or internal server. this keeps your data secure and allows you to run unlimited flows/zaps at very low costs. this is a long-term investment; the time you spend building these systems will save you an equivalent amount of time every day.

n8n

start with n8n. it offers maximum customizability and might be all you need. the other two apps focus on simplicity and different types of interfaces, but n8n lets you program backend interfaces with minimal coding knowledge. you can use chatgpt for the code part.

you can download unlimited templates from n8n’s website here. https://n8n.io/workflows/

please watch these two videos. if you’re someone who is high agency, i guarantee you’ll see the boundless possibilities and be amazed, just as i was.

you can create personal assistants, automated emails, and sms/call your clients/employees using ai.

i believe n8n will be one of the leading "ai agent" platforms in 2025 and 2026 due to its longevity, large community, and rapid integration capabilities. this will make it a strong contender among other ai flow builders.

by learning this, you will gain granular control over your entire work system and automations.

if you’ve used closed-source popular tools like lindy.ai or gumloop, using n8n will feel like absolute freedom, as no one is restricting your capabilities.

activepieces

activepieces is somewhat similar to zapier, offering comparable functionalities without being as complex as n8n. it's ideal for creating straightforward tools where you input something, and it outputs something else on a programmatic basis.

for example, i use it to automatically resize, compress, and upload every image i add to a form into my google drive. this setup allows anyone to upload an image via a public form, and the output is a compressed and resized image in my google drive, ready for my website. if my hosting service permits, i can even upload these images directly to my website’s image directory.

understanding apis and how to parse json is crucial.

this knowledge allows you to integrate applications using tools like n8n and active pieces, even if they don’t have existing integrations. this capability is essential for automating processes with any software that supports apis, enabling more tasks to be automated without manual intervention. you can stay ahead of the curve in your business or job by integrating the latest platform with ai into your workflow.

for instance, i use an ai image model called fluxpro. using replicate’s api i’ve connected it to active pieces to automate the creation of images for my marketing emails. i simply upload the text, and the system generates two image prompts, processes them through the api, and the resulting images are resized, compressed, and stored in my google drive. this automation saves me from manually creating prompts and adjusting images, making the process much more efficient.

i also use chatgpt to help implement apis. i take a screenshot of what i’m trying to achieve, ask chatgpt to read the api documentation, and guide me through integrating the feature into my active pieces or n8n workflow. this approach minimizes the need for deep technical knowledge and work, as chatgpt handles most of the heavy lifting.

botpress

another tool i’m exploring is botpress. it’s a versatile, self-hostable platform that can integrate with n8n or active pieces to create intelligent chatbots. these bots can act like digital employees, processing inputs and triggering appropriate automations to deliver the needed results.

investing time in learning these platforms is essential. the time spent setting up automations pays off multiple times over, as tasks that typically take an hour can be reduced to minutes and repeated effortlessly. this efficiency allows you to focus on more fulfilling activities rather than routine tasks.

many people find the initial learning curve of automation tools intimidating, which often leads them to stick with familiar manual processes or outsourcing. however, adopting a mindset focused on automation and system thinking can transform how you work, making routine tasks faster and more efficient.

as ai and automation platforms evolve, this foundational knowledge will enable you to implement new technologies as they become available. this proactive approach can significantly enhance your productivity and potentially position your business to succeed at a higher level with minimal manual effort.

trust me when i say that we are currently in an era where a small number of businesses, comprising one to three individuals, are achieving annual revenue exceeding one million dollars. the independent hackers and doers are currently in the dark about this trend, but they will soon become mainstream as the possibility itself becomes more widely recognized.

vouch +1: if the idea of self-hosting, creating docker containers, or managing digital ocean droplets seems overwhelming, consider using elastio’s one-click deployment option. they’ll handle all the server setup and maintenance for you at an affordable price, allowing you to focus on what matters.