OpenAI Developing Unified Codex App and New Scratchpad Feature

OpenAI is preparing a Scratchpad feature for Codex. In the new UI, multiple Codex tasks can be launched at once and run in parallel, and this is expected to become a core entry point for the future Codex Superapp.

According to code references, OpenAI is also pushing to consolidate its product lineup by building on the existing Codex desktop app. The clues visible so far point to functionality expanding beyond software engineering, along with a heartbeat system that keeps long-running tasks alive.

This heartbeat structure is interpreted as a signal that OpenAI intends to support managed agents that stay alive continuously in the background. Such agents could perform multi-step tasks without needing user input at every turn, periodically checking status and continuing execution.

The competitive landscape is also clear. Anthropic is already developing Conway, an agent system within its desktop app that autonomously carries out complex tasks, and OpenAI appears to be responding in a similar direction.

Adding to this, OpenAI employees have been posting snowflake emojis, fueling speculation about the possible release of a new model known by the codename Glacier. If the superapp and the new model are unveiled together, OpenAI could amplify its market impact by boosting both platform and performance at the same time.