OpenAI Developers
@OpenAIDevs
Pets. Now in Codex. Use /pet to wake your pet. https://t.co/aAm4lLP4LW
797retweets9.3klikes
View on XOpenAI Launches Codex Pets to Monitor Background Agent Workflows
OpenAI· Updated
OpenAI introduced Codex Pets, animated virtual companions that provide glanceable status updates for background agent threads within the Codex desktop app. This shift adds a visual monitoring layer to autonomous coding loops, allowing developers to track progress without switching windows.
OpenAI launched Codex Pets, optional animated companions that extend the OpenAI Codex app launch with a persistent status overlay. The window tracks active agent threads, reflecting whether the system is running or ready for review. It uses progress prompts to monitor background tasks without switching windows.
This update adds to Codex's unattended agent workflows, where maintaining visibility into background processes is a primary UX challenge. The feature provides a non-intrusive way to verify agent health and progress, addressing the "black box" nature of autonomous loops. It mirrors the trend of adding personality to technical tools.
Enable the feature in Settings or by typing /pet in the composer. Beyond built-in options, you can create custom companions by installing the hatch-pet skill, following a pattern seen in Codex's agent skill migration feature. Prompt the agent to design a pet inspired by your projects. The overlay is available now.
Still wondering? A few quick answers below.
Codex pets are optional animated companions for the OpenAI Codex desktop application. They appear as a floating overlay that stays visible while you use other apps, providing a visual way to track the progress of background tasks. They are designed to help developers monitor autonomous agent workflows without needing to keep the main thread window open.
You can wake a Codex pet by typing the slash pet command in the composer or by selecting Wake Pet in the app settings menu. Users can also use the command menu shortcuts to toggle the floating overlay. Once active, the pet remains visible over other windows to provide glanceable updates on the current state of your work.
The pet overlay displays the status of the active Codex thread, indicating whether the agent is currently running, waiting for user input, or ready for review. It also includes a short progress prompt that summarizes recent changes, allowing you to understand what the agent has accomplished at a glance without reopening the full conversation thread.
Yes, you can create custom pets by installing the hatch-pet skill, a reusable capability for Codex agents, using the skill-installer command. After reloading your skills from the command menu, you can ask the agent to create a new pet inspired by your specific projects. This allows for personalized companions that go beyond the built-in options provided in settings.
Every HeadsUpAI update is written based on its original source and reviewed before it's published. Read our editorial standards →
