OpenAI launches ChatGPT Work alongside public GPT-5.6 rollout

OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT Work on Thursday, an agent powered by GPT-5.6 that can autonomously handle multi-hour projects across documents and apps, according to Reuters.reuters
The launch coincides with the public release of the GPT-5.6 model family — Sol, Terra, and Luna — previously restricted to about 20 organizations at the U.S. government's request.reuters+1
Bloomberg reports the move signals OpenAI's push to reposition ChatGPT from a conversational assistant into an autonomous workplace tool.bloomberg

OpenAI on Thursday unveiled ChatGPT Work, a new AI agent embedded in its popular chatbot that can execute complex tasks across different applications and files for hours at a time. The launch coincides with the public release of GPT-5.6, the company's most advanced model family, which had been delayed since late June at the request of the U.S. government over national security concerns.

A New Chapter for ChatGPT

ChatGPT Work, powered by GPT-5.6 and Codex, is designed to help create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and web applications, according to Reuters. The tool can operate continuously for hours on complex projects and translate broad user goals into completed deliverables. The announcement was made during a livestream at 10 a.m. PT featuring members of the ChatGPT and GPT-5.6 teams.9to5mac+2

The launch represents what OpenAI is calling "the next chapter for ChatGPT," bringing together the company's Codex coding engine with the main ChatGPT application. ChatGPT Work is available on web, mobile, and desktop.9to5mac

GPT-5.6 Goes Public

The release also marks the public availability of GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna — three model tiers first announced on June 26 but restricted to roughly 20 pre-approved organizations at the U.S. government's request. Sol is the flagship model for heavy reasoning and agentic tasks, Terra offers balanced everyday performance at lower cost, and Luna is optimized for speed and affordability.reuters+2

Reuters reported on July 7 that OpenAI received approval for a broad rollout after a two-week limited preview prompted by an executive order requiring federal evaluation of powerful AI models before wide release. CNBC reported OpenAI announced on X that it was "expanding preview access globally".cnbc+1

Building on Workspace Agents

ChatGPT Work builds on OpenAI's workspace agents, introduced in April as a research preview for business and enterprise users. Those agents, also powered by Codex, can run in the cloud, operate on schedules, connect to apps like Slack, Google Drive Alphabet Inc. , Microsoft apps, and Salesforce , and continue working when users are offline. They were described as "an evolution of GPTs" capable of handling multi-step workflows including writing code, preparing reports, and responding to messages.openai+1

Bloomberg reported Thursday that ChatGPT Work is designed to field tasks for hours, marking OpenAI's push to reposition ChatGPT from a conversational assistant into an autonomous workplace tool.bloomberg

Sources (29)