OpenAI Unifies ChatGPT & Codex, Adds "Work Mode

OpenAI has merged ChatGPT and Codex into a single app following the launch of GPT-5.6. This update introduces a new "Work mode" designed for productivity tasks like creating presentations and analyzing data. Early feedback on Work mode is largely positive, with users finding it more structured for business tasks and better at handling structured outputs. However, complex presentations still require careful prompting. The company is seeing rapid user growth, with active users for Codex hitting 8 million. A head at OpenAI expects the combined active user count for Codex and ChatGPT Work to cross 9 million soon. However, some observers suggest this growth is partly "artificial," as many existing ChatGPT users were prompted to update to the new unified app. This makes it hard to tell how many new users are genuinely adopting Codex. The new interface has also drawn criticism. Some users complain the classic full-screen ChatGPT experience is replaced by a smaller floating window. Chat history is also a point of contention, with some users reporting missing or incomplete conversations and no search functionality. To gather more feedback, OpenAI is offering $100 in non-API credits for Codex and Work mode to users with an active subscription of at least $8 per month. This allows users to test the new features.