Simon Willison

Understanding ChatGPT Work

OpenAI launched ChatGPT Work on July 9, offering two distinct products: Work Cloud, accessed via chatgpt.com or the mobile apps, and Work Local, available through the desktop app that can run programs on a user’s computer. Work Cloud is a paid‑only feature for $20/month and up subscribers, providing advanced capabilities such as code execution with internet access, a headless Chrome browser, and a persistent filesystem across sessions. The author notes that while ChatGPT Work claims to be better for tasks with clear outcomes, many users find the distinction unnecessary and prefer the standard Chat interface for most use cases.

Simon Willison
6d ago

Claude Cowork and chat are now one Claude

Claude Cowork and the standard chat interface are merging into a single Claude experience, allowing users to hand over tasks or ask quick questions that the system will continue to handle even after the laptop is closed. The rollout will begin with Pro and Max plan users across web, desktop, and mobile, and will extend to new users on these plans over the coming weeks. This integration suggests Claude is evolving into a general agent, simplifying the distinction between Cowork and regular Claude usage.

Simon Willison
Sep 1

Codex bundles LibreOffice

The OpenAI Codex desktop app (now ChatGPT) stores a 1.7 GB runtime bundle in the user’s ~/.cache directory. This bundle includes full installations of Python, Node.js, and native binaries for Poppler, git, and LibreOffice, along with plugins that enable Codex to locate and use these binaries. The presence of LibreOffice, a fork of OpenOffice.org, highlights the app’s reliance on open‑source office tools.