July 9 product reset · Chat / Work / Codex modes · 1400+ plugins · vs Claude Cowork · pricing & setup guide
Summary: On July 9, 2026, alongside the GPT-5.6 model family, OpenAI shipped a product reshuffle—not a routine feature drop. The standalone Codex desktop app is discontinued and folded into a new ChatGPT desktop application, while ChatGPT Work debuts as an autonomous work agent. This article covers the full update: what changed, Work's five core capabilities, Codex upgrades after the merge, a ChatGPT Work vs Claude Cowork comparison table, desktop and web rollout steps, usage-metered pricing, strategic significance, and eight FAQs.
Starting July 9, 2026, the standalone Codex desktop app is retired. Its capabilities now live inside a rebuilt ChatGPT desktop application. Existing Codex users do not need a fresh install—update the Codex app in place and it auto-upgrades to the new ChatGPT desktop client. Projects, settings, and workflows carry over intact. The previous ChatGPT desktop build is renamed ChatGPT Classic and remains available for users who prefer it.
| Mode | Purpose | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Chat | Everyday Q&A and conversation | Everyone |
| Work | Cross-app autonomous tasks with finished deliverables | Knowledge workers, operators |
| Codex | Professional coding agent—reviews, PRs, multi-repo projects | Developers, engineering teams |
Notable: All three modes are reachable on desktop—including free-tier users.
ChatGPT Work is the headline product—a work agent that can run autonomously across apps for hours and hand back finished products, not drafts. Give it a goal and it will:
Draft an execution plan and wait for your approval
Connect to Slack, Gmail, Google Drive, and other tools to gather context
Execute multi-step work independently
Deliver documents, spreadsheets, presentations, or web apps
ChatGPT Work ships with a unified plugin directory for deep integration with mainstream work tools. Launch partners include:
| Category | Representative tools |
|---|---|
| Collaboration | Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom |
| File storage | Google Drive, SharePoint, Dropbox |
| Email & calendar | Gmail, Outlook, CRM calendars |
| Sales & marketing | Salesforce, HubSpot, LinkedIn, Adobe |
| Development & automation | GitHub, Canva, Zapier |
Usage is straightforward: type @app-name in a prompt to pull data from that source, or describe the task in plain language and let Work decide where to fetch information.
For complex jobs, Plan Mode lists execution steps before any work begins. You review and approve the plan, which keeps the agent on track and gives you control at decision points.
On desktop, ChatGPT Work includes Computer Use—the ability to read and edit local files, browse the web in a built-in multi-tab browser, click, type, move files, run one-off tasks, and configure Scheduled Tasks for recurring or trigger-based automation.
Unlike chatbots that stop at advice, ChatGPT Work outputs usable finished products: Word/PDF reports, Excel/Sheets workbooks, Slides/PPT decks, and interactive web apps built through Codex Sites.
Set tasks to run at specific times, on triggers, or on a recurring schedule. The agent keeps progressing even when you step away from your desk.
Codex did not disappear—it gained new capabilities inside the unified desktop app:
Inline diff editing—edit directly in the diff view without context switching
PR sidebar review—review pull requests without leaving the interface
Faster Computer Use—powered by GPT-5.6 with noticeably quicker execution
Multi-repo support—one project can span multiple codebases
Developers can set Codex as the default launch mode and even keep the Codex app icon on macOS—the day-to-day feel barely changes. Desktop Codex projects are also accessible from the mobile ChatGPT app.
Anthropic shipped Claude Cowork back in April. Both products target "AI work agent" use cases, but the design philosophies diverge:
| Dimension | ChatGPT Work | Claude Cowork |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | Cloud + desktop hybrid | Primarily local desktop |
| File access | Local files on desktop; upload mode on web | Direct control of designated local folders (sandboxed) |
| Integration ecosystem | 1,400+ plugins, broader coverage | 20+ official MCP connectors, native M365 integration |
| Best fit | Tasks spanning web apps and cloud tools | File-heavy, repetitive document production workflows |
| Non-technical UX | High (approachable interface) | Very high (technical concepts hidden) |
| Pricing model | Usage-metered (complexity drives consumption) | Per-seat (Pro from $20/month) |
| Free tier | ✅ Desktop access available | ❌ No free tier |
| Native M365 add-ins | Web-only (no native add-in) | ✅ Native Word/Excel/PPT |
Rule of thumb: If your work lives in browsers and SaaS tools, lean toward ChatGPT Work. If you process large volumes of local files and need native Office integration, lean toward Claude Cowork. Serious workflow teams in 2026 often run both.
Download the new ChatGPT desktop app from chatgpt.com/download (Mac / Windows)
If you already have the Codex app installed, just update it—the upgrade is automatic
Open the app and switch to Work mode in the top bar
Connect Gmail, Slack, Drive, and other tools from the plugin directory
Describe your task, review the Plan Mode steps, confirm, and let it run
| Plan | Web Work availability |
|---|---|
| Pro, Enterprise, Edu | Available from July 9, 2026 |
| Plus, Business | Rolling out over the following days |
| Free | Web access restricted—use desktop instead |
ChatGPT Work is not a separate paid product—it is bundled into existing ChatGPT plans. Consumption follows the same usage-metered model as Codex: longer, more complex tasks burn more quota. OpenAI has not published per-task unit pricing; run a small known job first to calibrate spend.
| Plan | Monthly fee (US) | ChatGPT Work access |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited desktop access |
| Go | $8 | Expanded desktop access |
| Plus | $20 | Desktop + web/mobile |
| Pro | $100–$200 | Full access, highest usage caps |
| Business / Enterprise | Team pricing | Full access + admin console |
Enterprise admins can configure workspace defaults, group limits, per-user overrides, and quota request workflows from the Admin Console.
The July 9 consolidation marks a turning point for OpenAI:
From "best model" to "deepest workflow" competition—GPT-5.6 matters, but the strategic bet is who embeds deepest into daily work. ChatGPT Work's answer: your desktop, Slack, and Google Drive.
Codex audience expands beyond developers—of 5 million weekly Codex users, more than 1 million already use it for non-coding work.
The AI super-app shape emerges—one app holding Chat + Agent + Coding + Computer Use + scheduled tasks + 1,400+ plugins.
The core design bet: AI that delivers finished products beats AI that only offers suggestions. Knowledge workers do not want another thing to prompt—they want something that gets the job done.
No. As of July 9, 2026, the Codex desktop app has been merged into the new ChatGPT desktop application. Update in place—your projects and data are preserved.
Yes on desktop, with usage limits. Web and mobile access are not available on the free tier.
ChatGPT Work targets long-running, cross-app tasks that deliver finished products. It supports multi-hour autonomous runs, plugin integrations, and Plan Mode. Standard Agent mode is better suited to short, single-step jobs.
Consumption scales with task complexity—OpenAI has not published per-task rates. Run a known job in Plan Mode first, observe usage, then decide whether to scale.
No. Projects, settings, and workflows carry over after the upgrade. You can also access desktop Codex projects from the mobile ChatGPT app.
Operator is a browser automation agent. ChatGPT Work is broader: plugin integrations with external apps, local file access on desktop, deliverable documents, and multi-hour multi-step projects—not one-off browser tasks.
Mobile rollout is underway: Pro, Enterprise, and Edu users first, then Plus and Business. You can monitor and manage Work tasks on mobile while heavy execution runs on desktop.
It depends on your workflow. ChatGPT Work excels at cloud and SaaS integrations with a free desktop tier. Claude Cowork excels at local file workflows and native M365 add-ins. Many teams use both.
ChatGPT Work is OpenAI's most complete product bet to date—not just a smarter chatbot, but an AI that lives inside your work, connects your tools, and actually finishes the job. The Codex merge is not an ending; it is an expansion. For millions of knowledge workers who never opened a terminal, Codex's underlying capabilities are now one mode switch away.
If your daily machine is Windows or Linux but you need Computer Use, Codex mode, or the full macOS desktop experience, buying a Mac is expensive and local VMs often stumble on permissions and performance. Rent a VNCMac remote Mac by the hour: open a graphical macOS session over VNC, install the ChatGPT desktop app, connect plugins, and validate Plan Mode and Scheduled Tasks—then stop renting when the project ends. See Mac Mini M4 plans to get started, or browse the homepage first.