A low-grade conflict is ongoing between OpenAI and Anthropic over who can deliver the most effective and user-friendly AI coding tools, with Anthropic emerging as the current leader. TechCrunch previously reported that Claude Code is becoming the preferred tool for many businesses, but OpenAI remains determined to compete.
Recently, OpenAI revealed updates to Codex, its automated tool, incorporating a range of new features to enhance its capabilities. The most significant update allows Codex to operate in the background, managing desktop apps with a cursor that clicks and types autonomously.
Codex now deploys multiple agents on a user’s Mac simultaneously without disrupting other applications, effectively acting as a coding assistant. It handles auxiliary tasks while users focus on major projects, suitable for frontend development, testing, or working with non-API apps.
These enhancements underscore OpenAI’s commitment to positioning Codex as a strong coding companion, adaptable across corporate environments. Some new features in Codex resemble existing capabilities of Anthropic’s Claude Code. Previously, Anthropic enabled Claude and Cowork to manage Macs remotely.
Furthermore, Codex now includes an in-app browser for executing commands on specific web applications, aiming to expand beyond localhost web apps. Additional updates incorporate a “memory” preview feature to recall past sessions and offer user-specific context, and an image-generation tool for creating visual assets.
OpenAI introduced 111 plugin integrations for apps like CodeRabbit and Gitlab Issues, broadening Codex’s operational scope to include clerical tasks such as organizing to-do lists using tools like Slack and Google Calendar.
A new pay-as-you-go Codex pricing option is available for ChatGPT enterprise customers, offering greater service procurement flexibility. Although OpenAI once dominated the industry, competition with Anthropic has intensified. The focus has shifted toward enterprise offerings, moving away from consumer apps like the discontinued Sora 2 amid ongoing controversies including legal challenges over ChatGPT’s mental health impact.