Codex Merged into ChatGPT: OpenAI’s Shift to Usage-Based Pricing and Industry Implications
OpenAI integrates Codex into ChatGPT, reflecting user behavior shifts and a new business model that could reshape AI adoption and the SaaS industry.
OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 launch made headlines, but a quieter transformation is underway: Codex, once a standalone coding tool, is now part of the ChatGPT desktop app. As of July 10, Chat, Work, and Codex modes are unified in one interface—available even to free users.
User behavior drove this change: OpenAI reported Codex had over 500 million weekly active users, with more than 100 million non-coders using it for reports, analysis, and project planning. This organic shift from coding tool to office assistant led OpenAI to merge its ChatGPT consumer and Codex teams under co-founder Greg Brockman in May, followed by the product integration in July.
The UI overhaul has mixed reactions: the ChatGPT chat box is now a sidebar tab, while Work and Codex modes take center stage. The old version rebranded as ChatGPT Classic sparked confusion on Hacker News, with users asking about casual chat access.
Beyond UI, the merge signals a business model shift: OpenAI separated free app entry from usage-based charging for Work/Codex. Subscriptions (Plus/Pro/Enterprise) define usage pool sizes; exhausted pools require credits, upgrades, or resets—replacing unlimited chat with pay-as-you-go for high-value tasks.
GPT-5.6’s three tiers (Sol, Terra, Luna) cater to diverse needs: Sol (flagship, same price as GPT-5.5), Terra (half-price with similar performance), Luna (budget-friendly). OpenAI emphasizes "intelligence per token" and "performance per dollar," with CEO Sam Altman noting a 54% efficiency boost in AI agent coding tasks.
Industry-wide impacts include the Wall Street-coined "SaaS Doomsday" theory—AI agents replacing SaaS subscriptions. While Guggenheim’s "Doomsday Canceled" report downplays risks, Gartner estimates AI could divert 20% of enterprise software spending ($234B) by 2030. ServiceNow already uses non-seat-based pricing for half its new contracts.
Sources
- 36kr, "Codex is Dead, and It Died for a Good Cause" (https://36kr.com/p/3889771343182343)