A social media creator’s experiment with OpenAI’s GPT-6 Astra has gone viral after he demonstrated how the AI assistant could reportedly navigate the IRCTC ticket-booking process with minimal instructions. The demonstration has sparked online conversations about how AI-powered automation could change the way people handle everyday digital tasks. Read on to know more.
Creator Asks ChatGPT to Book IRCTC Train Tickets
Content creator Manthan Jethwani (@manthanjethwani) shared a video on his Instagram where he asked ChatGPT to book a train ticket through IRCTC. The experiment reportedly began after a user commented on one of the creator’s reels about GPT-6 Astra and asked whether the AI could book train tickets through IRCTC, India’s official railway ticketing platform. Initially doubtful that the AI would be able to navigate a government-operated website, the creator decided to put it to the test. He opened ChatGPT Astra and entered a simple prompt asking it to find a train from Mumbai to Rajkot on September 20, between 9 pm and 11 pm, for two passengers travelling in AC class.
According to the creator, the AI then began navigating the booking process through the browser. It entered the departure and destination stations, selected the travel date and searched for trains matching the specified time and class preferences. The creator said the AI also checked availability and identified suitable trains, but the available options were on the waiting list. When the assistant asked how he wanted to proceed, he instructed it to check trains for the following day instead.
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How Did Social Media React To It?
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The AI reportedly continued with the process, searching for alternative options and filling in the required details. The creator said that by this point, the only step left for him was to make the payment. The demonstration quickly gained traction online, with users discussing the possibilities and limitations of AI agents handling real-world tasks on their behalf.
One user challenged the creator to test the system during Tatkal booking, writing, “Try it in Tatkal and I will agree that AI will replace all of us.” Tatkal bookings are known for being highly competitive, with limited seats often getting booked within minutes.
Another user suggested testing the AI beyond travel, commenting, “Give it a resume and try applying for real jobs using this.”
The viral experiment has renewed the debate around AI agents that can move beyond answering questions and actually interact with websites and complete multi-step tasks on a user’s behalf.
What are your thoughts about this?
Cover Image Courtesy: Instagram/manthanjethwani
FAQs
Is GPT-6 Astra available?
Yes, GPT-6 Astra is currently available and rolling out to users across consumer tiers, developer APIs, and enterprise cloud platforms.
How can I use GPT-6 Astra?
You can use GPT-6 Astra through OpenAI's official web interfaces, mobile apps, the API, or integrated cloud platforms like Microsoft Foundry and AWS.
Is OpenAI completely free?
Yes, OpenAI offers a free tier for ChatGPT with access to web search, custom GPTs, and models like GPT-5.6 Luna.
