OpenAI Unveils ChatGPT Work and New GPT-5.6 Model to Automate Complex Tasks

OpenAI on Thursday introduced ChatGPT Work, a new AI agent designed to handle complex business tasks by integrating across multiple applications and workflows. The new enterprise-focused tool is powered by the company's latest and most advanced large language model, GPT-5.6.

A New Agent for the Enterprise

According to OpenAI, ChatGPT Work functions as an autonomous agent that can break down large projects into smaller steps and operate for hours without continuous supervision. The system is designed to create finished materials such as spreadsheets, presentations, and even web applications by gathering information from connected software.

Key features of the new platform include:

• Cross-App Integration: ChatGPT Work connects to enterprise systems like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, SharePoint, and various CRMs through plugins. Users can direct the tool by typing "@" followed by the application's name.
• Scheduled Tasks: The agent can continue projects and update documents based on new information from connected apps, even when users are away from their devices.
• User Oversight: While designed for autonomy, the system allows users to monitor progress, provide feedback, and approve critical actions before they are executed.

Under the Hood: GPT-5.6 and Codex

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The new GPT-5.6 model underpins ChatGPT Work, with a specific focus on reasoning through multi-step problems and generating materials that adhere to user-provided templates and reference files. The launch also consolidates OpenAI's coding assistant, Codex, into the main ChatGPT desktop application.

This integration brings advanced coding capabilities to all users, including new functions like inline editing and pull request reviews. OpenAI noted that its internal finance team used the new system to reduce its month-end close and forecasting processes from days to hours, while the sales team created a tailored proof-of-concept for a client in 24 hours, a task that previously took weeks.

Early Adopter Success and New Features

Zapier, an early user of the tool, leveraged ChatGPT Work to build a system for reviewing thousands of monthly sales leads. Angela Ferrante, Zapier's Head of Enterprise Marketing, stated the system traced customer touchpoints across the company's CRM and other tools, generating a weekly dashboard that identified seven figures in potential sales.

Alongside the core agent, OpenAI released several new capabilities. "Sites," now in public beta, allows users to convert work into interactive web pages or applications. The company also introduced "Computer Use," which lets the agent control a user's computer to execute tasks across different programs and browsers. For enterprise clients, new admin controls and a Compliance API provide oversight, while an "Auto-review" feature successfully blocked 100% of attempts to extract protected data during internal testing.