OpenAI is massively expanding its developer tool Codex: the AI can now control a Mac on its own, generate images, remember preferences, and keep working on tasks autonomously for weeks. The move takes direct aim at Anthropic's Claude Code.
OpenAI has released a comprehensive update for Codex that pushes the AI coding assistant well beyond its previous role as a terminal and editor tool. The biggest new feature is "background computer use:" Codex can now operate any app on the user's computer by seeing the screen, clicking, and typing with its own cursor, according to OpenAI.
Multiple agents can run in parallel on a Mac without interfering with whatever the user is doing in other apps. OpenAI says this is especially useful for developers iterating on front-end changes, testing apps, or working with programs that don't have an API. The feature is only available on macOS for now.
The Codex app also now includes a built-in browser where users can comment directly on web pages to give the agent specific instructions. Right now, this is mainly geared toward front-end and game development. OpenAI plans to expand the browser feature so Codex can fully control the browser beyond local web apps.
