OpenAI to merge Chat and Work tabs into a single ChatGPT experience

A unified workspace

OpenAI is preparing to change the layout of its primary interface by merging the Chat and Work tabs into one experience. This move aims to create a more fluid environment where users can move from simple questions to complex projects without navigating different sections of the app.

Currently, the platform separates these two functions into distinct areas. The Chat tab is designed for everyday interactions like brainstorming or quick answers. In contrast, the Work tab is intended for heavy-duty tasks such as building websites, creating presentations, and conducting deep research.

By combining these features, OpenAI wants to allow users to start a casual conversation and then immediately transition into a work-oriented task in the same window. As digitaltrends.com reported, this update will initially be available to a select group of users before it rolls out to the general public.

Streamlining project management

One of the primary goals of this consolidation is to help users keep track of their ongoing projects more effectively. Instead of jumping between different tabs to find specific information, users will be able to see their progress in a single location. This is intended to reduce the friction of switching contexts during a busy workday.

The new unified experience will still support the integration of files and plugins. Users will be able to bring in external data and use specific tools while the AI works on various project components. This means the system can handle multi-step workflows while keeping all the relevant resources visible at once.

This shift follows a similar trend in the AI industry. Anthropic implemented a comparable change to its Claude platform in September by merging the Chat and Cowork functions into a single screen. OpenAI's move suggests a broader trend toward simplifying the user interface for more complex AI interactions.

Codex remains separate

While the general Chat and Work tabs are merging, OpenAI is making a distinction for its programming tools. Codex, the model often used for coding, is not being integrated into the new unified web experience. It will continue to exist as a separate experience specifically within the desktop application.

This means that developers who rely on the specific environment of the desktop app for their coding workflows will not see their primary workspace changed. The separation ensures that high-intensity programming tasks remain in a dedicated space while general productivity tasks are streamlined in the browser or mobile app.

OpenAI has not provided a specific date for when the wider release of the combined Chat and Work experience will occur. For now, the company is focusing on the initial rollout to select users to test the functionality of the merged interface.

Changes to usage limits

A significant technical change is coming to how subscribers access the AI's capabilities starting in December. For users on the Plus, Pro, and Business plans, ChatGPT and Codex will begin to share the same usage allowance. This means that the amount of work you can do in one tool will directly impact how much you can do in the other.

OpenAI noted that most users will not notice a significant difference in their daily experience. However, there is a caveat for heavy users who rely on multiple models. Some subscribers might find that they need to wait for their limits to reset more frequently depending on how they distribute their queries between the two systems.

To ensure that basic interactions remain accessible, regular Instant chats will not count toward this shared allowance. This distinction allows users to continue using the AI for quick, simple tasks without depleting the quota reserved for more complex work and coding projects.

What to expect next

The transition to a merged experience represents a shift toward a more holistic