OpenAI Codex expands beyond coding with new desktop and mobile capabilities
Recent updates show Codex evolving from a coding assistant into a versatile AI tool for desktop and mobile. It now supports native Android hardware access and offers high-performance alternatives to standard ChatGPT.
OpenAI is rapidly releasing new alpha versions of Codex, signaling significant development activity. While originally built for code, users are now using the Codex desktop app for general tasks, noting it provides access to advanced "thinking" models with generous usage limits. Creative developers have also successfully ported the Codex CLI to Android, enabling voice-controlled AI that can interact directly with phone sensors. Despite this progress, some users are encountering technical growing pains, such as UI bugs in VS Code and installation difficulties on Windows.
Key points
- Codex alpha versions are updating quickly, reaching 0.140.0-alpha.8.
- The desktop app is being used as a powerful alternative to ChatGPT for non-coding tasks.
- A new CLI version runs natively on Android with full sensor and voice control support.
- Early adopters report occasional UI glitches and setup issues on certain platforms.
Quick term guide
- alpha version
- An early copy of software that is still being tested and is not yet ready for regular use.
- usage limits
- The amount you are allowed to use a service before you must wait or upgrade.
- usage limit
- A usage limit is a cap on how much you can use a service in a set time.
- developers
- Developers are people who build software, apps, or websites.
- Codex CLI
- A command-line tool for using OpenAI Codex from a terminal.
- natively
- Running directly on a device's hardware without needing extra software to translate it.
- early adopters
- People who actively seek out and try new products before they become widely known.
- UI glitch
- A minor and temporary error in the way a website or app looks or behaves on the screen.
Sources covering this story (11)
- openai/codexOpenAI Codex expands beyond coding with new desktop and mobile capabilities ↗
- openai/codexopenai/codex 0.140.0-alpha.8 ↗
- openai/codexopenai/codex 0.140.0-alpha.7 ↗
- r/codexMy codex tab in VS Code is empty with no chat, any idea why? ↗
- r/OpenAICodex desktop app is very much capable of doing anything ChatGPT can, it’s not just for coding. It also gives you access to the higher thinking tier with decent usage limits. Your welcome! ↗
- r/OpenaiCodexCodex CLI running on Android with working audio and sensor access ↗
- r/codexCodex CLI running natively on Android with sensors and custom wake-word voice control ↗
- r/OpenAIThe pain of Codex Desktop App and Windows ↗
- r/ChatGPTProCodex Usage Tracking Plugin ↗