OpenAI's Answer To Anthropic? Codex Can Now Control Apps On Your PC

Sam Altman-led OpenAI has introduced a major update to its coding assistant, Codex. The latest update changed the coding tool into a multipurpose ‘work agent,' which is capable of handling a wide range of complex tasks on its own apart from writing code. Interestingly, this update comes on the same day after Anthropic launched its latest AI model, Claude Opus 4.7, bringing strong competition in the AI race. Moreover, the OpenAI CEO seems to take a jab at Anthropic through his cryptic post on X. He quoted a post by Codex lead Thibault “Tibo” Sottiaux and joked about not wanting stricter usage limits or reduced model quality. Altman tweeted, “I am happy everyone is switching to Codex, but Tibo, if you start rate limiting me or making me use worse

models…”

What’s New With The Codex?The latest update has changed how Codex works. It can now interact with a user's computer more directly, especially on macOS devices. It can operate applications on its own, which includes clicking, typing, and executing tasks on behalf of the users, without needing constant human intervention. Moreover, the American tech giant has also rolled out an in-app browser, enabling Codex to navigate websites and collect data as a part of its workflow. Additionally, the AI tool now supports generation of images through its GPT-based imaging system. This allows users to generate visuals alongside code and text-based outputs. One of the most crucial aspects of this update is the Codex’s ability to handle long-running tasks. It can plan future works and pause and resume actions on its own, acting as your personal assistant. Codex Turns Into A Work AgentOpenAI indicated that it is positioning its Codex platform more as a work agent. This tool can now help you with product ideation, front-end design, and even the creation of gaming assets. As per the company, Codex has more than three million active users, and more updates will be rolled out to desktop users signed up through ChatGPT, highlighting a phased expansion of access.