OpenAI brings Codex coding agent to ChatGPT mobile app: What you can do from your phone

Imagine being able to keep an eye on your code while you are away from your desk. That is now a reality. Codex, the powerful AI coding agent developed by OpenAI, has officially arrived in the ChatGPT mobile app. Available on both iOS and Android, this update lets developers monitor and control coding tasks directly from their phones.

The feature is rolling out in preview across all subscription tiers, including the Free and Go plans, in every supported region. Mobile support currently works with the macOS version of Codex. Windows users will not have to wait long, as support is expected soon.

What can Codex do from your phone?

Do not expect to write a full application on a tiny screen. Instead, think of this as a remote control for an AI-powered coding session that is already running on your computer. When you link your phone to any machine where Codex is active — whether that is a laptop, a Mac mini, or a remote development environment — the app pulls in the live state from that setup.

From there, you can review active threads, approve commands, switch models, check terminal output, inspect test results, and look at diffs. All of this happens without you being anywhere near your desk. Your files, credentials, and local configuration stay on the machine doing the work. Real-time updates flow back to your phone as Codex makes progress.

OpenAI uses a secure relay layer to keep your trusted machines reachable across devices without exposing them to the public internet. This means your code remains safe while you step away.

OpenAI sees Codex as a major priority

The company has been reshaping its products around Codex. There are confirmed plans to combine ChatGPT, Codex, and the Atlas browser into one larger AI superapp. Recently, OpenAI brought Codex into Chrome, putting its coding agent directly inside the browser. It even introduced quirky “Codex Pets” that show live progress updates while AI coding tasks run in the background.

Building on this momentum, the mobile expansion shows that OpenAI wants Codex to be accessible everywhere. For developers who spend long hours writing and debugging code, being able to check in from a phone is a significant convenience.

Competition is heating up

OpenAI is not alone in this space. Rivals like Anthropic’s Claude Code gained a remote monitoring feature back in February. As a result, OpenAI is making its own push to stay ahead. The mobile release is a clear signal that the company does not want to fall behind in the race for AI-powered development tools.

For developers looking to try it out, the feature is already live in the ChatGPT app. Simply update the app and connect to a machine running Codex. For more tips on using AI in your workflow, check out our guide on AI coding assistants. If you are interested in other mobile productivity tools, read our best productivity apps roundup.

In conclusion, the arrival of Codex in the ChatGPT mobile app marks a practical step forward for remote development. It allows you to stay productive even when you are not at your desk. This means that grabbing coffee or commuting no longer means losing touch with your code.

Bombshell ChatGPT Privacy Lawsuit Alleges OpenAI Shared Your Conversations with Google and Meta

A major ChatGPT privacy lawsuit filed in California claims that OpenAI improperly shared user data—including chat prompts, emails, and user IDs—with third-party tracking tools from Google and Meta. The class action, first reported by Futurism, argues that this data transfer violated California privacy laws and federal wiretap regulations. For millions of users who rely on ChatGPT for everything from work advice to personal health questions, the allegations raise serious concerns about how their most intimate digital conversations are being handled.

This isn’t just another data privacy case. The lawsuit puts a spotlight on the intersection of conversational AI and web tracking, two technologies that rarely mix well. But what exactly happened, and why should you care? Let’s break it down.

How Did OpenAI Share User Data with Google and Meta?

The lawsuit centers on two tracking tools: Meta Pixel and Google Analytics. These are common technologies used by websites to measure user activity and serve targeted ads. However, the complaint alleges that OpenAI installed these tools on its platform without clear disclosure, allowing them to capture sensitive data from ChatGPT interactions.

Specifically, the data shared includes chat queries, email addresses, and unique user IDs. A single prompt—like asking for help with a medical symptom or financial planning—can reveal deeply personal information. When combined with an identifier, that data becomes a powerful piece of a broader profile that follows users across the web.

According to the lawsuit, this occurred without explicit user consent, which is required under California’s privacy laws and federal wiretap statutes. OpenAI’s privacy policy does mention data collection, but the case argues that policy language is not the same as informed consent.

Why This ChatGPT Privacy Lawsuit Hits Harder Than Others

ChatGPT is not a typical search engine. People use it for brainstorming, drafting sensitive emails, discussing mental health struggles, or exploring legal options. The platform often captures unfinished thoughts and private details that users would never type into a public search bar. That context makes the privacy claim particularly potent.

For example, imagine asking ChatGPT for advice on a workplace dispute or a personal relationship. That conversation, if shared with advertising networks, could be used to build a detailed profile of your habits, preferences, and vulnerabilities. The lawsuit argues that this goes beyond standard data collection—it crosses a legal line.

Furthermore, the case highlights a growing tension: AI chatbots feel like private, one-on-one interactions, but the technology underneath relies on the same internet plumbing as any other website. This disconnect between user expectation and technical reality is at the heart of the lawsuit.

What This Means for User Privacy and AI Chat Data Protection

The ChatGPT privacy lawsuit is still in its early stages, and the allegations remain unproven. OpenAI has not yet responded to requests for comment cited in the source report. However, the case serves as a stark reminder that AI chat platforms are not necessarily safe havens for sensitive information.

For users, the immediate takeaway is caution. Avoid sharing identifiable personal details—such as full names, account numbers, medical specifics, legal facts, or financial details—in ChatGPT prompts unless you are comfortable with the possibility of that data being tracked. Assume that anything you type could become part of a larger data trail.

Building on this, the lawsuit could set a precedent for how courts view data sharing in AI environments. If successful, it might force companies like OpenAI to implement stronger consent mechanisms or limit third-party tracking on their platforms. For now, however, the burden falls on users to protect their own privacy.

What Should You Do Now to Protect Your Data?

While the case moves through the legal system, here are practical steps to safeguard your information:

• Don’t overshare: Avoid entering sensitive personal or financial data into ChatGPT. Treat it like a public forum, not a private diary.
• Check privacy settings: Review OpenAI’s privacy policy and adjust your account settings to limit data collection where possible.
• Use anonymized prompts: When discussing sensitive topics, use generic language and avoid identifiers.
• Stay informed: Follow developments in the lawsuit, as outcomes could lead to changes in how AI platforms handle user data.

As a result, this case is more than a legal battle—it’s a wake-up call about the hidden costs of AI convenience. The next time you ask ChatGPT for help, remember: your words might be traveling further than you think.

For more on related privacy issues, check out our guide on how to protect your data on AI platforms and understanding privacy policies in AI chatbots.

AI shouldn’t make decisions for you, but this one will tell when you’re making a bad one

Have you ever faced a long list of options and felt your brain simply shut down? You are far from alone. Researchers at Cornell University understand this struggle intimately, and they have created a tool called Interactive Explainable Ranking (IER). This system steps in at that precise moment, not to make the decision for you, but to quietly highlight when your choices clash with the values you claim to prioritize.

IER does not hand over control to artificial intelligence. Instead, it uses AI to ensure your decisions actually make sense. Consider it a reality check for your own thinking. Research suggests that AI can erode your problem-solving skills in as little as ten minutes, but this tool is designed to keep you firmly in the driver’s seat.

How does this tool actually work?

Imagine you are trying to pick a car. You tell IER which factors matter most to you — things like cost, reliability, and fuel efficiency. The tool then guides you through a series of head-to-head comparisons, using AI to determine the most useful questions to ask.

If your actual choices do not align with the values you said you cared about, the system flags the contradiction. For instance, you might keep selecting red cars without realizing it. IER surfaces that pattern and asks you to either adjust your ranking or explain why color should count as a real factor.

The result is a final choice that you can actually explain and defend. You can even turn the AI function off entirely for situations where using artificial intelligence feels inappropriate. Learn more about balancing AI and human judgment.

Has it been tested in the real world?

Yes, and it performed well. Researchers ran two experiments — one where participants ranked short films, and another where four teaching assistants evaluated ten student projects from a Cornell computer graphics course. Both tests produced consistent and explainable results that matched existing grades.

The tool won a Best Paper Award at the ACM CHI conference, one of the top gatherings on human-computer interaction. IER is publicly available if you want to try it on your next big decision.

When should you use Interactive Explainable Ranking?

This tool is not built for everyday, low-stakes calls but for moments where getting the decision right truly matters — such as hiring, grading, or competitive selections. Since AI is already freeing up your time on routine tasks, thinking more carefully about the decisions that remain seems worthwhile.

Building on this, IER represents a shift toward collaborative AI tools that empower rather than replace. It does not let the machine take over; it simply shines a light on your blind spots. For anyone who has ever made a choice and later wondered what they were thinking, this tool offers a second chance to get it right.

Furthermore, the design philosophy behind IER could influence how we approach AI in other domains. Instead of building systems that automate everything, developers might focus on tools that enhance human reasoning. This means that the future of AI might not be about smarter machines, but about smarter humans working alongside them.