Investing.com - Yanolja is participating in the global launch of a research preview of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI’s new artificial intelligence agent which aims to simplify online tasks, the South Korean company said on Wednesday.

In a statement seen by Investing.com, Yanolja, which offers cloud-based booking systems to domestic and foreign hotels through its cloud service, said it will support the development of OpenAI’s "Operator" AI agent by providing "insights gained from travel-related cases collected during the research preview phase."

In January, OpenAI unveiled its "Operator" tool, which harnesses a model that allows it to interact with on-screen buttons, menus and text fields. The offering was first made available to OpenAI’s Pro subscribers in the U.S. as a research preview and has now expanded to more global markets, including South Korea.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI, whose chatbot has been at the center of a multi-year surge in interest in the applications of AI, said Operator can do everything from create to-do lists to help with vacation planning and input login details on a website.

These so-called "agents" can perform tasks without direct human intervention and have been seen as crucial pillars for many companies’ AI agendas.

Yanolja has been pushing to build out its AI capabilities and its key cloud business by leveraging its "extensive data related to travel," according to CEO Jeff Kim.

"[O]ur AI technology will streamline customer service and automate operational processes for travel enterprises, leading to increased efficiency and convenience," Kim said. "We’re committed to accelerating the era of fully automated, personal and AI-driven total travel services, and look forward to our collaboration with OpenAI on enhancing the future of travel.”

Founded in 2005, Yanolja has become one of South Korea’s biggest travel and accommodation booking platforms, and has pursued a string of mergers and acquisitions in a bid to grow its core business.

Following a period of rapid growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, Yanolja received $1.7 billion in investment from SoftBank (TYO: 9984 )’s Vision Fund for a 24.9% stake in the company.