OpenAI expands Codex app with computer use, browsing and image tools

OpenAI on Thursday announced a sweeping update to its Codex application for macOS and Windows, transforming the code-focused tool into a broader AI-powered development environment with computer use, in-app browsing, image generation and persistent memory.

The upgrade marks a significant expansion of Codex beyond its original role as a coding assistant. The app can now interact directly with a user’s desktop, browse the web within the application, generate images and retain context across sessions through a new memory feature.

Plugin support, also included in the update, allows third-party developers to extend the tool’s functionality and integrate it with existing workflows.

“Codex for (almost) everything,” OpenAI wrote in a blog post detailing the changes, signaling the company’s ambition to position the product as a comprehensive workspace rather than a single-purpose coding tool.

The computer use feature allows Codex to observe and interact with applications running on a user’s machine, a capability that several AI companies have been racing to develop. Anthropic introduced a similar feature for its Claude model in late 2024, and Google has demonstrated comparable functionality in its Gemini products.

The addition of in-app browsing means developers can research documentation, check references and pull information from the web without leaving the Codex environment. Memory allows the app to recall prior conversations and preferences, reducing the need to repeat instructions across sessions.

The update comes as competition intensifies among AI companies to build tools that integrate more deeply into professional workflows. Microsoft, Google and Anthropic have all made significant investments in developer-focused AI products in recent months.

OpenAI did not disclose whether the new features would be available across all pricing tiers or limited to paid subscribers. The company also did not specify whether the computer use capability operates locally or routes interactions through its cloud infrastructure.

The updated Codex app is available now for macOS and Windows users.