OpenAI has released a standalone application for its programming assistant, Codex, now available to macOS users.
Introducing the Codex app—a powerful command center for building with agents.
Now available on macOS.https://t.co/HW05s2C9Nr
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) February 2, 2026
The software is designed as a “command center” to assist software developers in managing multiple AI agents.
The startup reported that over 1 million people have used Codex in the past month. The product was introduced in April and made publicly available in October.
The new application aims to capture market share from competitors like Anthropic and Cursor, which already offer similar popular solutions.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that Codex is “the most beloved internal product the company has ever had.”
“This is an amazing event for us at the company. I was so excited that I stayed up nights creating all sorts of things myself,” said the entrepreneur.
In the app, agents operate in separate streams organized by projects. Users can review changes and perform their tasks concurrently.
Codex includes a library of “skills” such as image generation, intended to assist with tasks beyond simple coding.
Other new features include:
- the ability to set up automation—AI agents will work in the background on a schedule;
- the option to choose personalities for digital assistants.
Typically, access to Codex is included in paid subscriptions to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Edu. However, with the release, the company has made the app open to everyone for a limited time.
In January, a specialized version of the GPT-5 line for programming—GPT-5.2 Codex—became available in Cursor.
In November 2025, Anthropic introduced Claude Opus 4.5, “the world’s best model for programming, agents, and computer use.”