OpenAI launched a new agentic-coding tool that could make even the most novice code monkey into a software star. Codex, the company’s coding tool OpenAI’s flagship software, ChatGPT, now has a new sidebar. The feature was announced on Thursday . The tool is not only a big deal in the worlds of software development but it also has the potential to replace coders.
According to the company, Codex is capable of coding tasks. Like the rest ChatGPT, the user only needs to input a prompt, click the “Code” button, and then enter the command. It can also ask questions about a user’s codebase. OpenAI claims that the program will “typically” complete a task in between 1 and 30 mins, depending on its complexity. OpenAI notes that Codex’s workflow is 100% auditable. Users can review “its actions through citations from terminal logs and testing outputs,” which allows them to “trace each step taken while task completion.” The coding occurs in an isolated environment.
Tech firms are increasingly automating code-writingand Codex will help with this. It is not impossible that automated tools will have a negative impact on the coder industry. Why hire a skilled engineer when you can hire a junior programmer for half the price of a senior coder, give them Codex, and get a software product that is almost finished?
Codex can be misused maliciously, but OpenAI says it has safeguards in place to prevent that. The company claims that “safeguarding against malicious AI-driven software applications, such as malware, is increasingly important.” They explain that Codex has been engineered to “identify and precisely reject requests aimed at developing malicious software, while clearly separating and supporting legitimate tasks.” Gizmodo contacted OpenAI to get more information.
Codex, currently in a research preview, will be initially available to ChatGPT subscribers. OpenAI has announced that ChatGPT Enterprise, Team, and Pro users will have free access to this tool starting today. Access to the tool could be expanded in the future. Codex is available to subscribers for no additional charge, but the company has announced that “rate-limited and flexible pricing options” will be introduced at a future date.
