OpenAI is testing a “Persistent mode” for its Codex command-line tool that could allow an AI agent to keep working until it is explicitly put to sleep. The feature matters because it points towards a more proactive, always-on form of AI assistant, as major technology companies compete to make general-purpose agents useful beyond software engineering.

Code reviewed by WIRED indicates that the mode would use substantial computing resources and could create its own follow-up tasks across sessions, drawing on previous interactions and knowledge of the user. It could also message users without being prompted, although instructions say this should be done sparingly and that it cannot take actions outside a user’s system without approval; OpenAI confirmed testing but said it has no immediate launch plans.