What happened
WIRED reported on August 27, 2026, that code reviewed by the publication reveals OpenAI is developing a feature that enables Codex, its AI coding tool, to continue working proactively until it is "put to sleep." The report, based on an examination of code, indicates the company is building a persistent agent capability within Codex.
Why it matters
This development signals a shift toward more autonomous AI agents that can operate without constant user input. A persistent agent could handle longer tasks and work independently, potentially changing how developers interact with AI tools. However, details about the feature's functionality, availability, or safety measures were not disclosed in the report.