OpenAI has introduced a significant set of updates to Codex in ChatGPT, a new cloud-based software engineering tool designed to assist software developers by automating and streamlining coding tasks. The update aimed at improving developer productivity, flexibility, and task management focusing on making Codex more practical and efficient for real-world development workflows without adding unnecessary complexity. Read more about codex here

Controlled Internet Access for Codex Tasks

The standout addition in this release is the ability to give Codex controlled access to the internet during task execution. This enables it to install external dependencies, upgrade packages, and run code that relies on external resources.

By default, internet access is turned off. However, Plus, Pro, and Team users can now enable it for specific environments, with fine-grained control over which domains and HTTP methods are permitted. This added flexibility supports a wider range of use cases while allowing users to manage security and resource access responsibly. Enterprise support is expected to follow soon.

Smarter PR Updates and Voice Dictation

Codex can now update existing pull requests, not just create new ones. This simplifies iteration and reduces the friction in collaborative coding workflows.

Another convenience feature introduced is voice dictation, allowing users to speak their task instructions directly to Codex. This adds a layer of accessibility and efficiency, especially when multitasking or working from mobile devices.

Reliability and Performance Fixes

This update also includes a variety of quality improvements:

1. Added a link to this changelog from the profile menu.
2. Added support for binary files: When applying patches, all file operations are supported. When using PRs, only deleting or renaming binary files is supported for now.
3. Fixed an issue on iOS where follow up tasks where shown duplicated in the task list.
4. Fixed an issue on iOS where pull request statuses were out of date.
5. Fixed an issue with follow ups where the environments were incorrectly started with the state from the first turn, rather than the most recent state.
6. Fixed internationalization of task events and logs.
7. Improved error messages for setup scripts.
8. Increased the limit on task diffs from 1 MB to 5 MB. Etc

These incremental fixes contribute to smoother, faster experiences for developers and teams using Codex inside ChatGPT.

While the headline feature controlled internet access is a meaningful step for developers who need external resources, it’s clear that OpenAI’s priority with this release is to quietly enhance reliability and usability across the board. From mobile enhancements to better diff handling and smarter pull request management, the update reflects a mature and responsive approach to user needs.

To explore more details or manage your environment settings, users can visit the official documentation linked in the release notes.