OpenAI's latest Codex update builds the groundwork for its upcoming super app

Source: Engadget

Background

Last month, following reporting from The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI confirmed it was working on a desktop super app that would combine ChatGPT, its Codex coding agent, and the Atlas web browser into one cohesive experience. OpenAI is not releasing that application today. Instead, it’s pushing out a major update to Codex that significantly expands what the software can do, offering a glimpse of the future super‑app vision.

“We’re building the super app out in the open,” said Thibault Sottiaux, head of Codex, during an OpenAI press briefing. “This release is about developers. In the future, we will broaden it up to a wider audience.”

New Codex Features

The latest version of Codex provides developers with multi‑purpose AI agents that can work across a larger surface area while being more proactive. Key capabilities include:

Computer Use and Plugins

• Agents can interact with other applications on your PC. When prompting a model, you can name a specific program or let the agent choose the best one.
• OpenAI claims an edge over competing tools (e.g., Claude Cowork) thanks to a “secret sauce” that lets an agent run an app without bogging down the entire system, enabling tandem work.
• 111 new plugins are being released, combining skills, app integrations, and model‑context protocol server connections to give Codex more ways to gather context and use developers’ tools.

Built‑in Browser and Image Generation

• A built‑in browser includes a commenting system that lets you prompt Codex to tweak specific parts of a webpage or web app. In a demo, a team member instructed Codex to adjust graph margins so the y‑axis wasn’t cut off.
• Integrated image generation uses gpt‑image‑1.5 to create product concepts, mockups, frontend designs, and simple game assets.
• Codex can also use screenshots to verify it’s on the right track with a user request.

Memory Features

• Contextual recall: Codex can remember context from previous tasks to inform future prompts, aiming to complete requests faster and at a higher standard.
• Proactive suggestions: The app can suggest actions based on gathered context, such as reminding you to respond to a coworker’s comment on a Google Doc draft at the start of your day.

Availability

The updated Codex is being rolled out to desktop app users logged in with their ChatGPT account.

• Computer use is initially available to macOS users, with EU and UK availability to follow soon.
• Memory features will also roll out later for users in the UK and EU.

This article originally appeared on Engadget.
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