Trending Now - Openai Enhances Codex App With Advanced Features and Tools
WHO:
VentureBeat - OpenAI, led by Thibault Sottiaux, Head of Codex, and Andrew Ambrosino, a technical staffer on the Codex team.
Engadget - OpenAI, developers using the Codex desktop app.
WHAT:
VentureBeat - OpenAI confirmed it has reached 3 million weekly developers using the Codex desktop app.
VentureBeat - The update includes more than 90 new plugins, including integrations with CircleCI, GitLab, and Microsoft Suite.
VentureBeat - Codex can now schedule future work for itself through "Heartbeat Automations" and has a new "Memory" feature currently in preview.
Engadget - The rollout of the updated Codex includes features for macOS users first, with availability for users in the EU and UK to follow soon.
VentureBeat - OpenAI updated its Codex desktop app to allow it to access all other applications on a user's computer.
VentureBeat - Codex now includes a built-in web browser and integrates with OpenAI’s image generation model gpt-image-1.5.
Techmeme - The update expands Codex from coding into full productivity workflows.
Engadget - OpenAI released 111 new plugins for Codex to enhance its capabilities.
VentureBeat - Codex can now perform tasks in the background while users continue to work in other applications.
WHERE:
VentureBeat - The updates are available for users on Mac and Windows operating systems.
WHEN:
VentureBeat - The update was announced on April 16th, 2026.
Engadget - The rollout of the updated Codex is available to users logged in with their ChatGPT account starting on April 16th, 2026.
WHY:
VentureBeat - OpenAI's goal is to narrow the gap between what developers can imagine and what they can actually build, positioning Codex as the central nervous system for modern software development.
VentureBeat - OpenAI aims to create a "Super App" that integrates various functionalities for developers, addressing the need for improved coordination and context-gathering in software development.
Engadget - The update is part of OpenAI's strategy to build a cohesive experience combining ChatGPT, Codex, and Atlas.
HOW:
VentureBeat - Codex can now "see, click, and type" across all applications on a machine, allowing for multi-agent workflows.
VentureBeat - The app includes features like "Heartbeat Automations" for scheduling future tasks and a "Memory" feature to recall previous interactions.
Engadget - Codex can generate images, charts, and workflow outputs, enhancing its utility in software development.
(UPDATED April 16, 2026 21:12 UTC)
OpenAI has announced that its Codex desktop app has reached an impressive milestone of 3 million weekly developers. The latest update introduces over 90 new plugins, including integrations with CircleCI, GitLab, and Microsoft Suite, along with features like "Heartbeat Automations" for scheduling future work and a new "Memory" feature currently in preview. Initially rolled out for macOS users, this update will soon be available for developers in the EU and UK, as OpenAI aims to bridge the gap between developers' imaginations and their actual creations.
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(UPDATED April 16, 2026 19:23 UTC)
OpenAI has announced an update to its Codex desktop app, which now allows users to access all applications on their computers and includes a built-in web browser along with integration of the image generation model, gpt-image-1.5. This update, available for Mac and Windows users logged in with their ChatGPT accounts, introduces 111 new plugins and features like "Heartbeat Automations" for scheduling tasks and a "Memory" feature to recall past interactions. The goal of this update is to create a "Super App" that enhances productivity workflows for developers by enabling Codex to perform tasks in the background while users work in other applications.