OpenAI combines Chat and Work tabs in ChatGPT redesign

OpenAI is combining the separate conversation and productivity sections in ChatGPT into a single interface. According to an email sent to users and reported by TechCrunch, the update will allow people to move from basic conversations to complex tasks, like generating websites or slideshows, without switching between tabs.

While the general chat and task features are coming together, the coding-focused Codex tool will remain in its own area within the desktop application. However, OpenAI mentioned that Codex and ChatGPT will now draw from the same usage limit pool. This means high-volume users might run out of their allotted queries sooner than before.

This shift follows a similar move by rival AI maker Anthropic, which streamlined its own assistant interface a few months prior. As AI tools evolve from simple chatbots into active digital assistants, software makers are trying to eliminate confusing menus that disrupt a user's workflow.

For everyday users, the main benefit is a cleaner experience where files, web searches, and plugins sit alongside regular text conversations. It remains unclear whether consolidating these tools will cause heavier battery drain or performance lag on older computers running desktop apps.