Key Highlights:
- The app supports multiple AI agents working in parallel on software tasks.
- It follows the recent release of GPT-5.2-Codex, OpenAI’s most advanced coding model.
- The move signals intensifying competition with Claude Code and Gemini agents.
OpenAI has launched a new macOS app for Codex, marking a major step in its push toward agentic software development. The update matters because developers are rapidly shifting toward AI agents that can code independently, collaborate in parallel, and automate large parts of software creation.
The new macOS app brings Codex out of the command line and browser, offering a native interface built specifically for multi-agent coding workflows.
What is the new OpenAI Codex macOS app?
The Codex macOS app is designed to let developers run multiple AI agents at the same time. These agents can work on different coding tasks in parallel, share context, and execute more complex workflows.
OpenAI says the app integrates modern agentic practices that developers have adopted over the past year. This includes background automations, agent coordination, and stateful workflows that persist across sessions.
The goal is simple. Reduce friction between humans and AI while building software faster.
How does it fit into OpenAI’s coding roadmap?
Codex first launched as a command-line tool in April last year. A web interface followed a month later. The macOS app now completes that evolution, offering a native environment that mirrors how developers actually work.
The launch also comes shortly after OpenAI introduced GPT-5.2-Codex, its most capable coding model to date. According to OpenAI, the macOS app makes that model easier to use in real-world projects.
How does OpenAI compare with Claude and Gemini?
Agentic coding is already dominated by tools like Claude Code and other cowork-style AI apps. OpenAI is entering a crowded space.
On benchmarks, GPT-5.2-Codex currently leads TerminalBench, which measures command-line task performance. However, results from SWE-bench show no clear winner. Models from Gemini and Claude Opus perform at similar levels.
This suggests that user experience and workflow design may matter more than raw model scores.
What new features does the Codex app offer?
The macOS Codex app introduces scheduled automations that run in the background. Results appear in a queue when users return. Developers can also choose different agent personalities, such as pragmatic or empathetic, to better match their working style.
Sam Altman said the focus is speed. He noted that sophisticated software can now be built from scratch in just hours, limited mainly by how fast ideas are typed.
Why this OpenAI move matters
Agentic coding is reshaping how software is built. With this macOS app, OpenAI is signaling that interfaces, not just models, define the next phase of developer tools. As OpenAI pushes Codex into daily workflows, competition in AI-powered coding is set to intensify.
