OpenAI expands Codex control
OpenAI updated its Codex app with a 'computer use' feature that can see into and control desktop applications and run in the background. Coverage described new abilities to open apps, click, type, hold memory, and automate repeatable tasks across the desktop. (macstories.net) (businesstoday.in)
OpenAI has expanded its Codex desktop app from a coding assistant into a tool that can operate parts of a computer for you. (openai.com) OpenAI announced the update on April 16, 2026, saying the Codex app for macOS and Windows now adds computer use, in-app browsing, image generation, memory, and plugins. The company said Codex can work “alongside you,” use desktop apps, and take on repeatable work. (openai.com) On macOS, the new computer-use feature lets Codex see and operate graphical interfaces after users install a plugin and grant Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions. OpenAI’s developer docs say the feature is available on macOS at launch, except in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. (openai.com) Computer use means the model can act through the same buttons, menus, and text fields a person uses, instead of only reading code files or terminal output. OpenAI said Codex can open apps, click, type, and carry out workflows across software already running on a desktop. (openai.com) The update pushes Codex beyond its original job as an agent for writing, reviewing, and shipping code. OpenAI introduced the Codex app in February 2026 as a desktop “command center” for multiple agents, parallel workflows, and long-running tasks. (openai.com) OpenAI tied the expansion to newer model capabilities. In March 2026, the company said GPT-5.4 was its first general-purpose model with native computer-use abilities, built to let agents operate applications and complete multi-step workflows across programs. (openai.com) Memory is still labeled as a preview. OpenAI’s announcement said Codex can remember preferences and learn from previous actions, while the OpenAI developer community post described “persistent context” and “intelligent automations” as features coming soon. (openai.com) (community.openai.com) OpenAI also said the app now includes more than 90 plugins and deeper support for developer work, including pull request review, multiple files and terminals, remote development over Secure Shell, and an in-app browser for testing front-end designs. (openai.com) The app remains tied to paid ChatGPT plans. OpenAI’s developer docs say ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, Edu, and Enterprise plans include Codex, while help pages say Codex usage and rate limits vary by plan. (openai.com) (help.openai.com) Early coverage framed the release as a direct move into the same “computer use” category that Anthropic and other artificial intelligence companies have been pushing for desktop agents. OpenAI’s version, at least in this release, is centered on developer workflows first and broader desktop automation second. (macstories.net) (businesstoday.in) For users, the change is simple to describe even if the software underneath is not: Codex is no longer limited to suggesting code in a box. OpenAI is now selling it as an agent that can watch the screen, use the mouse and keyboard, and keep working in the background while you move on to something else. (openai.com)
