ChatGPT Work vs Codex: Which should you open?

Chat answers questions. Work handles multi-step deliverables. Codex is for software projects. Pick by the job you want done.

ChatGPT now has Chat and Work, with Codex as a separate view in the desktop app. The names are easy to mix up. The useful difference is what you need at the end.

Chat: a quick answer or conversation

Ask a question, look something up, brainstorm or get a short draft. Choose Chat when you want help in the conversation and do not need it to carry a project through several steps.

Work: research and finished materials

Use Work to research a topic, analyze information or create a document, spreadsheet, presentation, report or site. It is built for longer, multi-step tasks. In the desktop app it may use local files or apps when you allow it.

Codex: code and repositories

Choose Codex to write or debug code, run tests and commands, review changes or work in a software repository. To start, select the folder or Git repository for the task, explain the goal and how to check the result, then review the changes.

Where can you open them?

OpenAI currently lists Work on web and mobile for eligible plans, and in the desktop app when your plan and workspace allow it. Codex is a separate view in the ChatGPT desktop app; it is not a selectable mode on web or mobile. Availability and usage limits can change by plan and workspace.

Sources: OpenAI Help Center, ChatGPT Work and Codex · OpenAI, Get started with Codex.