OpenAI rolls out GPT-5.6 and launches ChatGPT Work

In short: OpenAI says it has government approval to release GPT-5.6 to the public, and it is launching a new product called ChatGPT Work.

What happened

OpenAI has started a public rollout of GPT-5.6, its latest AI model. The company said the model had been limited for about two weeks to government-approved organizations during a “limited preview” after regulatory issues.

On the same day, OpenAI announced ChatGPT Work. OpenAI describes it as a mix of ChatGPT and Codex. Codex is OpenAI’s system for helping with software work, and OpenAI says ChatGPT Work is meant to bring those skills to non-coders too.

OpenAI says ChatGPT Work can pull information from the apps, files, and workflows you choose, then produce finished items like documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and simple web apps. It also includes a “plugins directory,” which is a list of connections that let the tool work with services such as Slack, Gmail, Google Drive, calendars, and CRMs (customer databases used to track sales and support).

Access is rolling out in stages. OpenAI says Mac and Windows users, including free ChatGPT users, should get access right away in the ChatGPT desktop app. On mobile and web, Pro, Enterprise, and Edu users get it first, while Plus and Business users follow over the next few days.

Why it matters

Many people already use chatbots to write and summarize, but switching between email, files, and workplace tools is still a hassle. OpenAI is pitching ChatGPT Work as a helper that can move between those tools for you (like an assistant who can read your notes, check your calendar, and draft a slide deck), which could change how some everyday office tasks get done.

Source: The Verge AI