OpenAI: Codex for (almost) everything — desktop app with computer use, browsing and plugins

OpenAI announced a significantly updated version of the Codex desktop application on April 16, 2026, integrating five key capabilities into one tool: computer use, in-app browsing, image generation, persistent memory and a plugin system. The application is available for macOS and Windows.

What can Codex do now?

The new version of Codex goes beyond the traditional concept of an AI coding assistant. Computer use enables Codex to interact with the computer’s user interface — launching programs, navigating through menus and executing multi-step tasks that require manipulation of the desktop environment.

In-app browsing brings the ability to review documentation, Stack Overflow answers and API references without leaving the application. Integrated image generation helps create mockups, diagrams and visual elements directly within the development workflow.

Why is this significant for the developer ecosystem?

Persistent memory means that Codex remembers project context, coding preferences and previous decisions between sessions. The plugin system opens up an ecosystem for integrations with third-party tools, positioning Codex not just as a coding assistant but as a central platform for developer productivity.

The launch comes on the same day as Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.7, signaling how competition in AI developer tools is intensifying further. While Anthropic focuses on improving the model itself (vision, task budgets, agentic effort levels), OpenAI emphasizes an integrated user experience with full agentic capabilities on the desktop.

OpenAI positions the new Codex as a step toward an “all-in-one” development environment where AI not only writes code but actively participates in the entire development process — from research and design to implementation and testing.