# ChatGPT 2.0 (/claude-and-chatgpt-2-tour/chatgpt)

---
type: Document
title: "ChatGPT 2.0"
description: "ChatGPT's one app for Chat, Work and Codex: what Work can do, where its work runs, its permission modes, and how to brief it."
status: stable
order: 0.23
ksor:
  owner: team:panaversity
  audience: [ public ]
  approval:
    by: process:panaversity
    at: 2026-11-05T15:14:05Z
chapter: "F00T"
part: Front
expert_status: required
concepts: [ "ChatGPT" ]
last_verified: 2026-11-05
sources:
  - id: openai-app
    title: "ChatGPT is now a partner for your most ambitious work (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://openai.com/index/chatgpt-for-your-most-ambitious-work
  - id: openai-merge
    title: "OpenAI is finally merging ChatGPT's Chat and Work tabs (TechCrunch, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://techcrunch.com/2026/11/02/openai-is-finally-merging-chatgpts-chat-and-work-tabs/
  - id: openai-models
    title: "Using GPT-6, whose address still says gpt-5.6 (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/gpt-5.6
  - id: openai-browser
    title: "Using cloud browser in ChatGPT (OpenAI, could not be opened on 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001280-using-cloud-browser-in-chatgpt
  - id: openai-slides
    title: "Collaborate in Space (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/space/collaboration
  - id: openai-skills
    title: "Skills in ChatGPT (OpenAI, could not be opened on 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001066-skills-in-chatgpt
  - id: openai-tasks
    title: "Automations (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/automations
  - id: openai-locked
    title: "Using locked chats in ChatGPT (OpenAI, could not be opened on 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001411
  - id: cloud-openai
    title: "ChatGPT Work cloud security (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/enterprise/chatgpt-work-cloud-security
  - id: codex-work
    title: "Use ChatGPT: Chat, Work and Codex (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/use-chatgpt
  - id: codex
    title: "ChatGPT is now a partner for your most ambitious work (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://openai.com/index/chatgpt-for-your-most-ambitious-work
  - id: openai-perms
    title: "ChatGPT is now a partner for your most ambitious work (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://openai.com/index/chatgpt-for-your-most-ambitious-work
  - id: openai-usage
    title: "OpenAI is finally merging ChatGPT's Chat and Work tabs (TechCrunch, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://techcrunch.com/2026/11/02/openai-is-finally-merging-chatgpts-chat-and-work-tabs/
  - id: brief-openai
    title: "Using GPT-6, whose address still says gpt-5.6 (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/gpt-5.6
  - id: chatgpt-features-video
    title: "Video walkthrough of ChatGPT's newest features (YouTube, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l9BVyCQPRk
  - id: analytics-insight-classic
    title: "OpenAI to fold ChatGPT Classic into unified desktop experience (Analytics Insight, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://www.analyticsinsight.net/news/openai-to-fold-chatgpt-classic-into-unified-desktop-experience
  - id: lds-chat-work-merge
    title: "OpenAI to merge ChatGPT Chat and Work tabs, pool Codex usage (Let's Data Science, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://letsdatascience.com/news/openai-to-merge-chatgpt-chat-and-work-tabs-pool-codex-usage-a4ede6bc
  - id: openai-prompt-guidance
    title: "Prompt guidance (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/prompt-guidance-gpt-5p6
  - id: notebookcheck-astra
    title: "GPT-6 Astra is on ChatGPT Plus, but only in Work and Codex (Notebookcheck, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://www.notebookcheck.net/GPT-6-Astra-is-on-ChatGPT-Plus-but-only-in-Work-and-Codex.1391574.0.html
  - id: lds-gpt6
    title: "OpenAI rolls out GPT-6 and Intelligent UI in ChatGPT (Let's Data Science, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://letsdatascience.com/news/openai-brings-gpt-6-and-intelligent-ui-to-chatgpt-4f0d797c
  - id: openai-desktop-app
    title: "ChatGPT desktop app (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/app
  - id: openai-changelog
    title: "ChatGPT changelog (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/changelog
  - id: beri-slides
    title: "ChatGPT Slides puts your decks under Space's sharing rules (Beri, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://www.beri.net/article/chatgpt-slides-launch-pro-business-enterprise-space-sharing-powerpoint-google-slides-export-vs-copilot-gemini
  - id: ai-career-lab-skills
    title: "ChatGPT Skills are here (The AI Career Lab, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://theaicareerlab.com/blog/chatgpt-skills-what-they-are-how-to-enable-2026/
  - id: claude-desktop-video
    title: "Video walkthrough of the new Claude desktop app (YouTube, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM0dwXhOv2o
  - id: openai-scheduled-tasks
    title: "Scheduled tasks in ChatGPT (OpenAI, could not be opened on 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10291617-scheduled-tasks-in-chatgpt
  - id: developers-digest-mcp-events
    title: "ChatGPT MCP events: start Work tasks from Gmail, Slack, GitHub (Developers Digest, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://www.developersdigest.tech/blog/chatgpt-mcp-event-triggered-automations
  - id: lds-locked-chats
    title: "OpenAI rolls out locked chats with PIN protection (Let's Data Science, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://letsdatascience.com/news/openai-rolls-out-locked-chats-with-pin-protection-in-chatgpt-5c926e6b
  - id: openai-sandboxing
    title: "Sandboxing (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/sandboxing
  - id: willison-codex-goals
    title: "Codex goals (Simon Willison, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://simonwillison.net/2026/apr/30/codex-goals/
  - id: gradually-codex-changelog
    title: "Codex app changelog (gradually.ai, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://www.gradually.ai/changelogs/codex-app/
  - id: openai-cloud-browser
    title: "Using cloud browser in ChatGPT (OpenAI, could not be opened on 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001280-using-cloud-browser-in-chatgpt
  - id: openai-permission-modes
    title: "Permission modes (OpenAI, verified 2026-11-05)"
    resource: https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/permission-modes
generated:
  at: 2026-11-05T15:14:05Z
  by: process:panaversity
trust_tier: unverified
build_id: sha256:10c4a01354d04fd87938618f1dadd957ec3018e286743b95082d711d9dff0d47
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---

*As verified on November 5, 2026.*

### One app for Chat, Work and Codex

OpenAI's new desktop app for Mac and Windows brings three experiences into one app, on every plan, including Free.[^openai-app],[^analytics-insight-classic]

- **Chat** is everyday conversation.
- **Work** is an agent for longer jobs. It gathers information from your apps and files, splits a project into steps, works for hours if needed, and returns finished materials.
- **Codex** is OpenAI's coding agent, with its own view and history.

You choose Chat or Work with a toggle above the message box, and switch to Codex separately. Chat and Work conversations share one list of recent chats, and projects hold related files and context for both.[^openai-merge],[^lds-chat-work-merge]

GPT-6 Astra, OpenAI's most capable model, is *(reported)* the model behind Work on Plus and higher plans. In Codex you can choose among the GPT-6 models. Everyday Chat runs on lighter GPT-6 models. Which models you see, and which is the default, depends on your plan and your workspace settings, so check the model picker in your own app. Chat answers can now mix text with interactive charts, forms and small tools when that suits the question.[^openai-models],[^openai-prompt-guidance],[^notebookcheck-astra],[^lds-gpt6]

### What Work can do

- **Work with your files and apps.** On the desktop it can use local files and apps. Work you start in the cloud continues on the web and on your phone.
- **Use a browser.** The desktop app has a built-in browser for research and web tools. A cloud browser runs on a separate remote computer with its own sign-ins, never your own browser's passwords or tabs. ChatGPT in Chrome adds ChatGPT to Chrome's sidebar, and sites can offer ChatGPT their own tools directly through WebMCP.[^openai-browser],[^openai-desktop-app],[^openai-changelog]
- **Use your computer.** Computer use lets ChatGPT click, type and move files across your apps in the background, once or as part of a scheduled task. Record & Replay turns a workflow you demonstrate into a reusable skill.
- **Produce finished work.** Documents, spreadsheets, presentations and web apps, often built to your templates and reference files. **Sites**, in beta, are interactive web apps such as dashboards, trackers and internal portals that you can share with your team or publicly, and that update as their data changes.
- **Build decks with your team.** **Slides** turns a conversation, a file, an outline or a template into a presentation, with speaker notes and sources, in your brand style if you supply it. Ask "create a slide deck from this chat" and the deck opens in a slide editor where you can change text, charts, tables and images yourself. Decks live in **Space**, ChatGPT's shared area for pages and decks. You invite people to view or edit, and teammates can select part of a slide and ask ChatGPT to change it. You can present from ChatGPT, or export a copy to PowerPoint, PDF or Google Slides. The live deck stays in Space.[^openai-slides],[^beri-slides]
- **Use your apps.** Plugins connect ChatGPT to tools such as Slack, Teams, Google Drive, SharePoint, email, calendars and CRMs. ChatGPT picks relevant plugins itself, or you name one by typing "@" and its name.
- **Repeat what worked** *(reported)*. Skills package a way of doing a job so ChatGPT follows the same method each time. The results still need checking. When you like how ChatGPT handled something, ask it to turn that into a skill. You can also describe one to the skill creator, write one in an editor, or upload a skill file. You call a skill by typing "@" and its name, in Chat or in Work.[^openai-skills],[^ai-career-lab-skills],[^claude-desktop-video],[^chatgpt-features-video]
- **Run on a schedule or on an event.** Scheduled tasks run once, on a schedule, or to watch for a change. They can also start when something happens: a new Gmail message, a message in a Slack channel, or activity on a GitHub pull request. Plugin builders can offer their own events through MCP.[^openai-tasks],[^openai-scheduled-tasks],[^developers-digest-mcp-events]
- **Remember.** Memory saves useful preferences and recurring workflows when you turn it on. Opt-in features can also build memories from what you do on screen.
- **Keep some chats private** *(reported)*. You can lock a chat behind a four-digit PIN, or Face ID, Touch ID or device unlock on a phone. A locked chat disappears from your history and search and is found under **Projects > Locked chats**. Locking hides a chat from people using your device. It is not encryption, and a forgotten PIN can only be reset by deleting every locked chat.[^openai-locked],[^lds-locked-chats]

### Where ChatGPT's work actually runs

ChatGPT's cloud work also runs on separate, protected computers, but OpenAI describes a different design from Claude's.[^cloud-openai],[^openai-sandboxing]

- **Machines that can be reused.** Work's cloud tasks run in sandboxes backed by virtual machines on OpenAI's servers. OpenAI says Work can reuse an environment across tasks, or replace it while keeping the state it needs, so not every task gets a new one. Saved state is what lets Work resume an interrupted task and refer back to earlier work.
- **Deleting is not immediate.** Ending a task or deleting a chat does not immediately remove everything stored with it. Your workspace's retention settings decide how long saved state is kept.
- **What it cannot reach.** The cloud environment does not inherit your local files, installed apps, browser sign-ins or company network. The cloud browser is another separate computer with its own sign-ins.
- **Steps on your own computer.** A Work task can run some steps on your connected computer, which must be online. If it is not, an existing task can continue in the cloud, but without your files.
- **Local work in the desktop app and Codex** runs on your own computer, inside your operating system's own sandbox (Seatbelt on a Mac, bubblewrap on Linux, the Windows sandbox on Windows), not in a virtual machine. Your permission mode sets what that sandbox allows.

### Codex in the same app

Codex is to ChatGPT what the Code tab is to Claude. Like the Code tab, it is not only for programmers: OpenAI says you can use it for research, documents, presentations and other knowledge work.[^codex-work] What it adds is developer views and technical detail, which matter most when software gets built, reviewed and tested. In the desktop app it can edit changes inline, review pull requests in a side panel, work across several repositories in one project, give each chat its own copy of a repository (a worktree) so parallel jobs do not collide, and run coding tasks in parallel in Codex Cloud. A goal mode keeps Codex working until it judges a goal complete or a token budget runs out, and Codex Remote lets you follow and steer a session from your phone.[^codex],[^openai-desktop-app],[^openai-changelog],[^willison-codex-goals],[^gradually-codex-changelog]

### Permissions and governance

You control what ChatGPT can reach, when it checks in, and which actions need your approval. In the desktop app you choose a permission mode:

- **Ask for approval** works inside the current workspace and asks before editing files outside it or using the internet.
- **Approve for me** keeps the same limits but sends approval requests to auto-review, a model that checks each action and asks you only about ones it finds risky.
- **Full access** removes the limits on files and internet use.
- **Custom** applies rules from a settings file.

In the cloud browser, permission to visit a website is separate from permission to take a consequential action on it, such as a purchase. In companies, administrators manage access, connected tools and permitted actions, and can see Work conversations and actions through the Compliance API.[^openai-perms],[^openai-cloud-browser],[^openai-permission-modes]

Complex tasks use more of your plan than quick questions, and Codex draws on your ChatGPT plan's usage *(reported)*.[^openai-usage],[^lds-chat-work-merge]

### Briefing ChatGPT 2.0

OpenAI's advice for its GPT-6 models matches Anthropic's closely. State the goal, the relevant context, the constraints, the evidence required, the success criteria and the output format. State each instruction once. Ask for approval only after the worker has prepared a concrete result you can review. Start at medium reasoning effort and raise it only when the gain is worth the time and cost. To shorten a prompt that works, remove one group of instructions at a time and rerun the same tests.[^brief-openai],[^openai-prompt-guidance]

The same Four-Part Brief works on both: the brief you write for Claude is the brief you give ChatGPT Work. That is why this book teaches briefing once, not once per app.

[^openai-app]: OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Work and the combined desktop app on July 9, 2026. The earlier desktop app was renamed ChatGPT Classic and retires on January 30, 2027. Signing in to the new app keeps your chat history. ChatGPT is now a partner for your most ambitious work, OpenAI.
[^analytics-insight-classic]: OpenAI to fold ChatGPT Classic into unified desktop experience, Analytics Insight.
[^openai-merge]: On November 2, 2026, OpenAI told users it will merge the Chat and Work tabs into one experience, first for a small group of users, while Codex stays separate. When that reaches your account, ChatGPT starts work from a single conversation, as Claude does. OpenAI is finally merging ChatGPT's Chat and Work tabs, TechCrunch.
[^lds-chat-work-merge]: OpenAI to merge ChatGPT Chat and Work tabs, pool Codex usage, Let's Data Science.
[^openai-models]: *(Reported.)* GPT-6 Astra was introduced on September 3, 2026. On Plus it is reported as available in Work and Codex, with a limited allowance. OpenAI's model-selection guide describes what each model is for but not the app's defaults by plan, and OpenAI's help page on models could not be opened when this page was verified, so check your own app. Lighter GPT-6 models and the new interactive answers (which OpenAI calls Intelligent UI) reached Chat from October 7, 2026. Using GPT-6, whose address still says gpt-5.6, OpenAI.
[^openai-prompt-guidance]: Prompt guidance, OpenAI.
[^notebookcheck-astra]: GPT-6 Astra is on ChatGPT Plus, but only in Work and Codex, Notebookcheck.
[^lds-gpt6]: OpenAI rolls out GPT-6 and Intelligent UI in ChatGPT, Let's Data Science.
[^openai-browser]: The cloud browser can read pages, click, fill in forms and ask you to sign in securely or confirm an action. Sites can still block automated access. Site tools through WebMCP and cloud browser sign-in were not available for Enterprise or Edu workspaces as of November 5, 2026. Using cloud browser in ChatGPT, OpenAI †.
[^openai-desktop-app]: ChatGPT desktop app, OpenAI.
[^openai-changelog]: ChatGPT changelog, OpenAI.
[^openai-slides]: *(Reported.)* Slides was announced on October 16, 2026 and is rolling out on the web and desktop to Pro, Business and Enterprise accounts with access to Space, as of November 5, 2026. Decks share the access settings of their Space, and removing someone's direct invite does not remove access they inherit from the Space. Collaborate in Space, OpenAI.
[^beri-slides]: ChatGPT Slides puts your decks under Space's sharing rules, Beri.
[^openai-skills]: Skills arrived with ChatGPT Work on July 9, 2026. Reports differ on which plans include them, and on Enterprise and Edu an administrator decides who can create, share and publish skills. Check your own account. Skills in ChatGPT, OpenAI †.
[^ai-career-lab-skills]: ChatGPT Skills are here, The AI Career Lab.
[^claude-desktop-video]: Video walkthrough of the new Claude desktop app, YouTube.
[^chatgpt-features-video]: Video walkthrough of ChatGPT's newest features, YouTube.
[^openai-tasks]: Event triggers were added in August 2026 and plugin events through MCP in September 2026. As of November 5, 2026, event-triggered tasks are created on the web or mobile app, need a Plus plan or higher, and on Enterprise and Edu need an administrator to allow them. Automations, OpenAI.
[^openai-scheduled-tasks]: Scheduled tasks in ChatGPT, OpenAI †.
[^developers-digest-mcp-events]: ChatGPT MCP events: start Work tasks from Gmail, Slack, GitHub, Developers Digest.
[^openai-locked]: Locked chats began rolling out on October 20, 2026 on Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu plans. Locking a chat that belongs to a project removes it from the project. Using locked chats in ChatGPT, OpenAI †.
[^lds-locked-chats]: OpenAI rolls out locked chats with PIN protection, Let's Data Science.
[^cloud-openai]: As verified on November 5, 2026. OpenAI: tasks "run in VM-backed sandboxes", and "Work can reuse an environment across tasks or replace it while preserving eligible state. This doesn't mean every task receives a new container." Local sandboxing uses "platform-native enforcement on each OS". OpenAI's sandboxing page does not describe Codex Cloud tasks, so this page does not either. ChatGPT Work cloud security, OpenAI.
[^openai-sandboxing]: Sandboxing, OpenAI.
[^codex-work]: OpenAI: "If you prefer Codex, you can keep using it for research, documents, presentations, and other knowledge work." Codex shows developer views, such as diffs and review, and more technical detail than Work. Use ChatGPT: Chat, Work and Codex, OpenAI.
[^codex]: Codex goal mode began in the Codex terminal app. Codex Remote became generally available in June 2026. ChatGPT is now a partner for your most ambitious work, OpenAI.
[^willison-codex-goals]: Codex goals, Simon Willison.
[^gradually-codex-changelog]: Codex app changelog, gradually.ai.
[^openai-perms]: The available modes depend on the app version, your settings and your organization's rules. ChatGPT is now a partner for your most ambitious work, OpenAI.
[^openai-cloud-browser]: Using cloud browser in ChatGPT, OpenAI †.
[^openai-permission-modes]: Permission modes, OpenAI.
[^openai-usage]: OpenAI said ChatGPT and Codex will share one usage allowance from December 2026 for Plus, Pro and Business, and that most users would not notice a change. OpenAI is finally merging ChatGPT's Chat and Work tabs, TechCrunch.
[^brief-openai]: The guidance is written for the GPT-6 models and carries over the GPT-5.6 advice. Using GPT-6, whose address still says gpt-5.6, OpenAI.
