OpenAI is preparing to test a unified interface that combines ChatGPT Chat with its Work agent, according to an email seen by BleepingComputer. The change is designed to let users move from quick questions and brainstorming into longer, project-based tasks without switching between separate tools. OpenAI plans to begin the test with a small group of users, while Codex will remain a standalone platform.
Chat has traditionally been used for fast answers and ideation, while Work handles heavier assignments such as research, spreadsheets, reports, presentations and published Sites. The merged experience would allow users to upload files, connect plugins and monitor agent progress from the same conversation. That convenience also raises questions about usage consumption, because longer agent tasks can drain allowances far faster than simple chat requests.
Anthropic has already moved in a similar direction. In September, the company announced that cowork and chat were merging into one Claude experience, rolling out first to Pro, Max and Ultra subscribers. Enterprise access followed in October, with Team and Free plans still to come. Anthropic also introduced Claude Docs and Slides for document and presentation editing. Both companies are racing to turn assistants from question-answering tools into end-to-end task platforms.
Cost clarity is emerging as a key competitive issue. OpenAI already shares an allowance structure across Work and Codex, and users can purchase credits when limits are exhausted. On the Pro $500 plan, Ultrafast consumes included usage at eight times the standard rate, then draws credits at six times the standard rate. In December, Plus, Pro and Business subscribers will share a token-based allowance across ChatGPT and Codex, with instant chat excluded from that limit. Usage details will be available under Settings and Usage.
OpenAI doubled Work and Codex allowances for some Pro accounts in late October. Even so, some Codex users have complained that their allowances drained faster than expected. OpenAI executive Thibault Sottiaux disputed claims of undisclosed cuts, while an external assessment initially called the complaints supported but unproven, then shifted to partly confirmed after cache-efficiency problems surfaced.
The broader AI market is growing quickly. Gartner expects spending on AI agents and assistants to rise from $29.2 billion in 2026 to $65.5 billion in 2027. Total AI spending could reach $2.67 trillion in 2026, up 49.5%. Adoption remains uneven, however. An IDC study of 1,900 organizations found only 3.1% at the highest AI-maturity stage, while 61.3% were in the two earliest stages. For users, predictable costs may matter as much as agent capability as more work shifts into these unified interfaces.
