OpenAI just announced it's adding AI "workspace agents" to ChatGPT. For now, they're available as a research preview for Business, Enterprise, Edu, and Teachers plans, and they're free to use until May 6, 2026.
Introducing workspace agents in ChatGPT | OpenAI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyvVUEPSCu0
According to OpenAI, workspace agents are an evolution of the customizable GPTs you can already build in ChatGPT. They're built on the Codex code-generation model and can handle a wide range of work tasks—things like drafting reports, writing code, and replying to emails.
These agents are also designed to follow team processes, ask for approvals when needed, and move work smoothly between different tools. A sales team, for example, could use a workspace agent to automatically pull details from call notes and customer research, narrow down new leads, and draft follow-up emails directly into a rep's inbox.
OpenAI is also highlighting that workspace agents can keep running even when you're not around. Powered by Codex in the cloud, they have a workspace environment with access to files, code, tools, and memory. That means they can do more than just answer prompts—they can write and execute code, use connected apps, remember what they've learned, and continue multi-step tasks.
So you can set them up to run tasks on a schedule when you're out, or deploy them in Slack to handle requests instantly, which helps prevent work from getting stuck with just one person.
OpenAI says you can build a workspace agent pretty quickly, too. Just select "Agents" from the ChatGPT sidebar, describe a workflow your team repeats often, or drop in a file. ChatGPT will then guide you through defining the steps, connecting the right tools, adding skills, and testing—effectively helping you turn the process into an agent.
On the safety front, you decide what tools, data, and actions the agent can use, and set conditions where it needs approval. For sensitive operations like editing a spreadsheet, sending an email, or adding a calendar event, you can configure the agent to ask for permission before proceeding. Existing GPTs will remain available during the workspace agents preview, and OpenAI plans to make it easy to convert GPTs into workspace agents later.
Workspace agents are available as a research preview for ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, Edu, and Teachers plans. For Enterprise and Edu, admins can enable them through role-based controls. They're free until May 6, 2026, after which OpenAI plans to move to a credit-based pricing model.