OpenAI has launched its latest “low-key research preview,” introducing a new coding agent named Codex.
The Codex tool will be available to subscribers of ChatGPT Pro, Enterprise, and Team starting Friday. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, along with other executives, likens Codex to the initial rollout of ChatGPT, suggesting it is poised to be a significant product for the company. Currently, users can access Codex at no additional cost, but OpenAI anticipates implementing fees as demand becomes clearer.
The primary aim of Codex is to serve as a “virtual coworker” for software engineers, according to Josh Tobin, OpenAI’s research lead for agents, during a recent press briefing. Similar to existing coding tools, Codex can generate code based on natural language input. It is capable of independently addressing issues in sandboxed code, performing tests, and recommending real-world adjustments. This process may take up to 30 minutes, with OpenAI planning to enhance Codex’s capabilities to work unattended for longer periods in the future.
Initially, Codex will be integrated into the ChatGPT web app but is deliberately restricted from accessing the internet to reduce security vulnerabilities. It utilizes a specialized version of OpenAI’s o3 reasoning model, referred to as codex-1, tailored for coding tasks.
OpenAI considers Codex to complement detailed AI coding tools like Cursor and Windsurf, the latter of which is currently in acquisition discussions for approximately $3 billion. Within OpenAI, engineers have begun using Codex as a “morning to-do list,” allowing them to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Alexander Embiricos, Codex’s product lead, noted that several external companies testing the tool report that on-call engineers are leveraging Codex to monitor service stability.
Currently, Codex exhibits limitations in its autonomous functionalities. OpenAI’s vision is to eventually eliminate the complexities associated with coding. “We believe that the future of development will involve the agent operating on its own computer, with tasks delegated to it,” stated Embiricos. During a recent talk, Altman emphasized the importance of coding to OpenAI’s future ambitions, noting that creating a general-purpose AI engineer, as Codex is intended to be, could give a competitive advantage in the advancement of artificial general intelligence.
Codex was initially identified as OpenAI’s first AI coding tool back in 2021 before the introduction of ChatGPT. Currently, there is intense interest in AI models that assist in coding, with companies like Anthropic also investing significantly in this area. Just this week, Windsurf unveiled its own suite of coding models, while Google’s Gemini has integrated GitHub capabilities and announced AlphaEvolve, an AI agent designed specifically for coding algorithm development.
With Google hosting its annual I/O conference next week, the timing of OpenAI’s Codex announcement appears strategically relevant amid their ongoing competition. Observers are eager to see Google’s forthcoming response.
Elsewhere
- Airbnb’s Apple envy: A minimalistic, all-black stage at Airbnb’s recent event in Los Angeles featured CEO Brian Chesky demonstrating new features, echoing the aesthetics of early Apple keynotes. The event introduced a revamped “Services” offering, a redesign of Airbnb Experiences, and an app upgrade that would impress tech enthusiasts. For detailed coverage, check out reports from Wired and The Wall Street Journal.
- AI news highlights: Microsoft initiated layoffs affecting three percent of its workforce, primarily targeting engineering roles. In another move, Databricks announced its acquisition of database startup Neon for $1 billion. Meta has postponed the rollout of its Llama 4.0 “Behemoth” AI model. Meanwhile, Perplexity has integrated with PayPal and Venmo to support in-chat purchases and Cohere has reported an 85 percent shortfall in its projected revenue. Additionally, Chegg laid off 22 percent of its workforce, significantly influenced by advancements in AI.
Overheard
“On May 14 at approximately 3:15 AM PST, an unauthorized modification was made to the Grok response bot’s prompt on X.” – A statement from xAI explaining an abnormal behavior exhibited by the bot.
“When AR really works, I think that will wow people.” – Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, discussing augmented reality on the All-In podcast.
“Flat design is over. The future is colorful and dimensional.” – Brian Chesky expressing aspirations for design trends on X.
Personnel log
- Anand Swaminathan, previously with Tesla, has transitioned to Zipline as head of delivery flight performance.
- Benjamin Joe has taken on the role of VP of Asia Pacific at Meta.
- Susie Dickson departed Meta after a 12-year tenure as head of content design.
- Alston Cheek has joined Airbnb as director of platform partnerships, having previously served in a similar capacity at Snap.
- Sterling Anderson, co-founder of Aurora, is now chief product officer at GM.
- Richard Gringras has left his position as VP of News at Google after 14 years.
- Christina Wootton, Roblox’s chief partnerships officer, has departed after over 11 years.
Link list
More to click on:
- An in-depth look into the launch of images in ChatGPT.
- Exponential growth in AI-specific tech job openings.
- “Elon Musk’s recent actions at the Copyright Office backfired dramatically.”
- A rundown of tech leaders who joined President Donald Trump in Riyadh.
- Rising concerns as profit takes precedence over safety in the AI sector.
- Bloomberg’s exploration of DeepSeek and its founder Liang Wenfeng, along with a profile of Satya Nadella and Microsoft’s AI initiatives.
- An analysis by Epoch AI on the potential for scaling reasoning models.
- OpenAI’s policy team has launched a new Substack.
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