As of November 2025, OpenAI's Agent Builder has been positioned as a developer-focused tool that initiates workflows via a single chat-trigger input. To evaluate its potential for automating processes in your product, PMs need to consider both its capabilities and limitations compared to established platforms like Zapier. Here’s how to approach this evaluation:
1. Review Key Features: Note that Agent Builder currently offers only one start node (a chat input) and includes just three built-in tools—file search, guardrails, and MCP. Compare this against your workflow automation needs, especially if you require integrations such as form submissions, product purchases, or scheduled events available in competitors.
2. Assess Integration Complexity: Since deploying Agent Builder requires the generation and handling of code (via ChatKit and Agent SDK), run a pilot project to verify if your team has the technical capacity to manage this setup. Evaluate the ease of incorporating native HTTP requests, which are absent in this framework.
3. User Experience Testing: For non-technical teams, test if the tool’s deployment can be simplified or if it will demand additional technical oversight. Conduct real-world tests by creating sample workflows and gathering feedback from a pilot group.
4. Compare Metrics and Requirements: While Zapier offers over 7,000 native integrations, Agent Builder’s limited toolset means it is more suitable for controlled, developer-centric environments. Run benchmarks to assess whether its streamlined approach could still provide sufficient value in your specific context.
Early user insights shared in November 2025 indicate that while OpenAI’s Agent Builder serves as an interesting developer tool, it may not yet fully replace more comprehensive platforms. PMs should align their evaluation against the specific needs and technical expertise of their organization.