ChatGPT Work Launched: Codex Merges Into ChatGPT Desktop App (Free Users Included)

Three things landed on the same day:

• The standalone Codex app merged into the new ChatGPT desktop client (Mac and Windows)
• ChatGPT Work launched — a long-running AI agent for knowledge workers
• GPT-5.6 rolled out broadly, powering the new agent capabilities underneath

1.1 The Codex App Is Gone

Starting July 9, 2026, the standalone Codex desktop app is retired. All of its capabilities migrate into the new ChatGPT desktop application. Existing users do not need a fresh install — update the Codex app and it upgrades in place to the new ChatGPT desktop client. Projects, settings, and workflows are preserved.

1.2 The New ChatGPT Desktop App: Three Modes in One

All users, including the free plan, can access all three modes on desktop. Developers can set Codex as the default launch mode and even keep the Codex app icon on macOS, so day-to-day usage feels nearly unchanged.

1.3 ChatGPT Work: OpenAI's AI Colleague

ChatGPT Work is the headline product of this release. It is an AI agent that can work autonomously across apps for hours and deliver finished output. You state a goal, and it will:

1. Draft an execution plan and wait for your approval
2. Connect to Slack, Gmail, Google Drive, and other tools to gather context
3. Execute multi-step tasks independently
4. Deliver a document, spreadsheet, presentation, or web app as the final artifact

Unlike chat AI that offers suggestions, Work is designed to deliver usable finished work, not drafts. It goes head-to-head with Anthropic's Claude Cowork, released in April, and signals a broader shift in AI competition from benchmark scores to deep workflow embedding.

2.1 Cross-Platform Integrations: 1,400+ Tools

ChatGPT Work connects to mainstream work tools through a unified plugin directory. Launch partners include:

• Collaboration: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom
• File storage: Google Drive, SharePoint, Dropbox
• Email and calendar: Gmail, Outlook, CRM calendars
• Sales and marketing: Salesforce, HubSpot, LinkedIn, Adobe
• Development: GitHub, Canva, Zapier

Usage is straightforward: type @app-name in your prompt and ChatGPT pulls data from that source, or describe the task in plain language and it decides where to fetch information.

2.2 Plan Mode: Plan First, Execute Second

For complex tasks, ChatGPT Work offers Plan Mode: the AI lists execution steps, you review and approve, then work begins. This prevents runaway automation and gives you control at critical checkpoints — especially important for workflows that write to external systems or aggregate financial data.

2.3 Computer Use: Direct Control of Your Machine

On desktop, ChatGPT Work has Computer Use capabilities. It can:

• Read and edit local files
• Browse the web in a built-in multi-tab browser
• Click, type, and move files on your behalf
• Run one-off tasks or set up Scheduled Tasks

Computer Use runs on GPT-5.6 with significantly faster execution than prior generations. For long-running agent sessions, local Mac or Windows stability and network continuity directly affect task success — which is why many teams run agent workflows on dedicated cloud Mac nodes instead of shared laptops.

2.4 Finished Deliverables, Not Drafts

ChatGPT Work delivers usable finished output:

• Documents (Word/PDF reports, analyses, email drafts)
• Spreadsheets (Excel/Sheets data processing, financial analysis)
• Presentations (Slides/PPT with template support)
• Web apps (interactive pages via Codex Sites)

2.5 Scheduled Tasks: Work Continues While You Are Away

You can schedule tasks to run at specific times, on triggers, or on a recurring basis. Even when you are not at your desk, the agent keeps progressing. Enterprise admins can configure workspace defaults, group limits, and per-user overrides in the Admin Console.

Codex did not disappear — it gained new capabilities after the merge:

• Diff inline editing: Edit directly in the code diff view for faster iteration
• PR sidebar review: Review pull requests without leaving the interface
• Faster Computer Use: Powered by GPT-5.6 with noticeably improved speed
• Multi-repo project support: One project can span multiple codebases

Developers can set Codex as the default launch mode and keep the Codex app icon. The mobile ChatGPT app can view and continue desktop Codex projects. If you are evaluating AI coding assistant options, Codex mode versus Cursor and Claude Code deserves a dedicated POC.

Anthropic released Claude Cowork in April. Both products target AI work agents, but their design philosophies diverge:

In one sentence:

• If your work lives in browsers and SaaS tools, choose ChatGPT Work
• If you process local files and run repetitive document pipelines, choose Claude Cowork

Teams running serious workflows in 2026 will likely use both — Work for cross-cloud integrations, Cowork for local document production.

ChatGPT Work is not a separate paid product. It is included in existing subscription plans. One important caveat:

1. 01
   Download or update the desktop app: Get the new ChatGPT desktop client at chatgpt.com/download (Mac / Windows). If you already have the Codex app, update it and it migrates automatically.
2. 02
   Confirm all three modes are visible: After launch, check the top navigation for Chat, Work, and Codex. Developers can set Codex as the default view and keep the Codex icon.
3. 03
   Switch to Work mode: Click Work in the top bar to enter the long-task agent interface. Free users should use desktop first — web access is restricted for free tier.
4. 04
   Connect the plugin directory: Authorize Gmail, Slack, Google Drive, and other tools you use daily in the Plugins Directory. Use @Slack or @Gmail in prompts to pull targeted context.
5. 05
   Describe your task and review the plan: State your goal in plain language (for example: "Summarize last week's #sales Slack channel, cross-reference the Google Sheets forecast, and produce a Google Docs variance report"). Review the steps the AI proposes, then confirm execution.
6. 06
   Monitor usage and iterate: After your first task completes, check quota consumption before configuring Scheduled Tasks or expanding integrations. Enterprise teams set spend controls through the Admin Console.

Web rollout timeline: Pro, Enterprise, and Edu users had access starting July 9. Plus and Business users roll out over the following days. Free users have restricted web access — use desktop instead.

OpenAI's consolidation marks a turning point:

1. Competition shifts from "best model" to "deepest workflow embedding." GPT-5.6 matters, but the real strategic bet is who gets closest to daily work. ChatGPT Work's answer: "I'm on your desktop, in your Slack, in your Google Drive."
2. Codex's audience expands beyond developers. Of 5 million weekly Codex users, over 1 million already use it for non-coding work. This merge makes those capabilities accessible to everyday knowledge workers.
3. The AI super-app shape is emerging. One app now holds Chat, agents, coding, file control, scheduled tasks, and a plugin ecosystem. OpenAI's super-app prototype is taking form.

Teams that need stable agent runtime environments often hit sleep/wake interruptions, network jitter, and resource contention when running Computer Use on shared laptops. For Codex multi-repo PR review and CI integration, NUKCLOUD multi-region bare-metal Apple Silicon nodes offer dedicated compute, auditable tenant boundaries, and 24/7 online sessions — a better production foundation than oversubscribed VPS instances. Configure by region and memory spec on the pricing page, or open a trial node quickly via the order page.

• Can I still use the standalone Codex app?
  No. As of July 9, 2026, the standalone Codex desktop app has been merged into the new ChatGPT desktop application. Update your existing install — projects and data are preserved.
• Can free users access ChatGPT Work?
  Yes on desktop, with usage limits. Web and mobile access are not available to free-tier users at launch.
• How is ChatGPT Work different from ChatGPT Agent mode?
  ChatGPT Work is built for long-running, cross-app tasks that deliver finished files. It supports multi-hour autonomous runs, plugin integrations, and Plan Mode. Standard Agent mode is better for short, single-step tasks.
• Will ChatGPT Work be expensive?
  Usage scales with task complexity. OpenAI has not published per-task pricing. Run a known task in Plan Mode first to measure consumption before scaling up.
• Will I lose my Codex projects?
  No. After updating, all projects and settings are retained. You can also access desktop Codex projects from the mobile ChatGPT app.
• How is ChatGPT Work different from ChatGPT Operator?
  Operator is a browser automation agent. ChatGPT Work covers a broader scope: plugin integrations with external apps, local file access on desktop, deliverable documents, and multi-hour multi-step projects rather than single browser sessions.
• Is ChatGPT Work available on iPhone and Android?
  Mobile rollout is underway: Pro, Enterprise, and Edu users first, then Plus and Business. You can monitor and manage Work tasks on mobile while desktop handles heavy execution.
• Should I switch from Claude Cowork to ChatGPT Work?
  It depends on your workflow. ChatGPT Work wins on cloud multi-app integrations and free-tier desktop access. Claude Cowork wins on local file workflows and native M365 add-ins. Many teams use both.

Last updated: 2026-07-10 | Sources: OpenAI official blog, ChatGPT Release Notes