OpenAI adds scheduled automations to Agents API for recurring tasks
OpenAI announced on October 23, 2026 that the beta Agents API now includes scheduled automations, letting AI agents start sessions automatically at defined times. The feature uses standard 5‑field cron syntax for recurring jobs or a future Unix timestamp for one‑time runs. Developers specify the time zone and can choose to create a new session each run or target an existing session to continue a…
Key points
- OpenAI's beta Agents API now supports scheduled automations using cron expressions or Unix timestamps
- Developers can configure recurring tasks (e.g., daily at 10:00) or one‑time tasks, choosing new or existing sessions
- Automations start at the next matching time, include a random delay, and can be paused, resumed, or deleted via the API
Example schedules include “0 10 * * *” for 10 am daily, “0 */2 * * *” for every two hours, and “0 9 1 * *” for the first day of each month. The automation is stored as “active” but does not fire until the next matching time, and OpenAI adds a small random delay to spread load. Users can pause, resume or delete automations via the API; pausing stops pending deliveries while deletion stops future runs but does not cancel work already in progress.
The capability is separate from the consumer‑facing “Scheduled Tasks” in ChatGPT and requires the beta header “OpenAI-Beta: agents=v1”. It opens possibilities for automated daily briefings, monthly expense audits, inventory checks, or follow‑up messages without manual prompting.
OpenAI Agents API Adds "Scheduled Automations": Run AI Agents at Set Times Every Morning or Month
note.com · 24 October 2026
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