OpenAI expands Codex desktop app beyond coding to full computer control

OpenAI has updated its Codex desktop application to control other applications on a user's computer. The update introduces "Computer Use" functionality that allows Codex to click, launch, and type into any application on macOS devices. The feature operates in the background while users work in other applications. Codex now includes an integrated web browser for front-end development and access to OpenAI's gpt-image-1.5 model for generating project imagery. The app supports over 90 plugins connecting to tools like CircleCI, GitLab, and Microsoft Suite. New features include "Heartbeat Automations" for scheduling work and a "Memory" system that retains user preferences across sessions. Codex can monitor applications like Slack, Gmail, and Notion to surface relevant information. While available on Windows, the background computer control is limited to macOS at launch. The update follows similar moves by rival Anthropic. OpenAI reported reaching 3 million weekly developers with Codex. The company has a $100 per month plan for teams.