OpenAI is introducing the Codex coding tool into the ChatGPT mobile app, accelerating the competition for the mobile AI programming market.

OpenAI announced on Thursday that its coding tool Codex will be added to the ChatGPT mobile app, expanding the reach of the product as competition in the artificial intelligence code generation tool market intensifies. Coding tools have become an important way for AI companies to reach commercial clients, and OpenAI is currently competing with rivals like Anthropic, whose Claude Code tool has gained widespread adoption among developers. This update is not simply about allowing developers to code directly on the narrow screen of a smartphone, but rather positioning the smartphone as a "mobile console" and "command center" for multiple intelligent agents. Users can seamlessly connect to the Codex coding sandbox environment running in the cloud or on the macOS desktop through the ChatGPT mobile app. Even when commuting or out and about, developers can remotely view real-time code differences, test run screenshots and terminal feedback on their phones, and give new iteration instructions, approve high-risk terminal commands, or even push GitHub Pull Requests with a single click using voice or text commands. To optimize the user experience on mobile devices, OpenAI has deeply integrated core operating system features, such as utilizing iOS's "Live Activities" feature to allow developers to track background automated refactoring and testing progress even while the device is locked. Looking back at its development history, OpenAI first introduced the AI coding assistant Codex designed for multiple intelligent agent workflows in May 2025, focusing on full-stack development and complex system refactoring. In February 2026, OpenAI launched the standalone Codex macOS desktop application, surpassing traditional dialog box interactions to become a professional development platform with independent workspaces and built-in Git tools. Following the release of the GPT-5.3-Codex model in the spring of 2026, the system gained enhanced multimodal "computer usage" capabilities, allowing it to autonomously operate browsers and remember personalized development preferences. The official introduction of Codex into the mobile platform is not only a technical extension but also seen as a precise counterattack by OpenAI against its competitor Anthropic. Anthropic's earlier release of Claude Code, which supports efficient remote access on mobile devices, has garnered high praise in the developer community, and OpenAI's move aims to leverage the large user base of ChatGPT to regain the dominant position in the developer market with lower cross-platform barriers. From a broader business strategy perspective, this version integration is a key step for OpenAI to build the next-generation traffic entry point. The industry generally believes that integrating Codex into the ChatGPT mobile app aligns with OpenAI's unified strategy of a "Super-App" that was previously revealed. OpenAI plans to deeply restructure AI dialogues, professional coding platforms, and built-in web browsers to create a versatile software and hardware ecosystem core. OpenAI stated that this tool is currently being previewed in the ChatGPT mobile apps on iOS and Android platforms. It currently only connects to macOS systems, with Windows support expected to be released soon.