OpenAI Introduces Codex Pets: An Animated Companion for Developers
A floating overlay that keeps you informed without switching tabs.
Feature Details
OpenAI has introduced an optional animated companion feature, named Codex Pets, for its AI coding tool Codex. The companion appears as a floating overlay that provides users with status updates on active coding tasks without requiring them to switch tabs.
Codex Pets function as a non-interactive visual indicator that informs developers when Codex is actively processing, when a task is complete, or when user input is required. The feature does not assist with coding directly.
Users can summon or dismiss the companion using the command /pet in the composer. Additional methods to toggle the overlay include:
- Navigating through Settings > Appearance > Pets
- Selecting "Wake Pet" or "Tuck Away Pet" in the settings menu
- Using the keyboard shortcut Cmd+K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows)
Available Variations
The application ships with eight built-in pet designs, including a cat and a dog. Users can create custom pets by entering the command /hatch and prompting Codex directly. Community-created custom pets include designs inspired by characters such as Goku, Patrick Star, Microsoft Clippy, Sam Altman, Dario Amodei, and a goblin.
Availability and Promotion
The feature is available on Windows and macOS versions of Codex. OpenAI is offering 30 days of ChatGPT Pro to users who submit ten user-generated companions, for a limited time.
Related Legal Context
In a separate matter, Ziff Davis, the parent company of Mashable, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging copyright infringement related to the training and operation of OpenAI's AI systems.