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Skills vs. Agents

Posted Jul 13, 2026 | Views 1.8K
# ChatGPT
# ChatGPT 101
# ChatGPT for Work
# Journalism
# News
# News Organizations
# Work
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Evan Hirsch
OpenAI for News @ OpenAI

Evan Hirsch helps lead OpenAI’s adoption efforts for the journalism industry, drawing on more than two decades of experience in network, streaming, cable, and local TV news. He works with journalists, news executives, journalism schools, and nonprofit organizations to help them put AI to practical use.

Before joining OpenAI, Hirsch was a Senior Producer at NBC News and held editorial roles at MSNBC and CBS News. An Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award winner, he began his career producing local newscasts in Philadelphia, Columbus, and Syracuse. He is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse and Maxwell Schools.

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SUMMARY

This video breaks down the difference between ChatGPT Skills and Agents. A Skill is the reusable template: how a newsroom wants a brief structured, what sources should be cited, what claims need review, and what the output should look like. An Agent is the workflow that can use approved tools, gather material, follow instructions, and apply that Skill.

What you’ll need:

  • A ChatGPT account
  • A repeatable beat or monitoring workflow
  • A clear idea of what sources the Agent should use and what it should not do

What you’ll learn:

  • The difference between Skills and Agents
  • How Agents can use Skills
  • How to design an Agent with a clear beat, job, and limits
  • How to preserve source links, dates, and human review

Who this video is for:

Journalists, editors, producers, newsroom leaders, and educators who want practical ways to use AI in daily newsroom work. No technical background is required.

Key takeaway:

Skills define how the work should be done, while Agents can gather information, use tools, and apply that process for you.

Built by OpenAI:

Created by OpenAI Academy to help news professionals use AI confidently while keeping editorial judgment, sourcing, and verification at the center.

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