OpenAI introduced Workspace Agents in ChatGPT, available in research preview for Business, Enterprise, Edu, and Teachers plans. The feature lets teams create shared AI agents that execute multi-step workflows, connect to enterprise tools, and continue running without direct user input, according to OpenAI’s announcement.
What Workspace Agents Do
Workspace Agents are powered by Codex and run in the cloud, giving them access to a persistent workspace for files, code, tools, and memory. Unlike earlier ChatGPT customizations (GPTs), these agents can write and execute code, interact with third-party applications, retain context across tasks, and operate on schedules or respond to triggers.
Users create agents by describing a workflow in ChatGPT. The system maps the steps, connects relevant tools, and tests execution before deployment. Once active, agents can run autonomously, including in Slack channels where they pick up requests and respond without human prompting, per OpenAI.
OpenAI’s own teams are already using them. The sales team built an agent that pulls details from call notes and account research, qualifies leads, and drafts follow-up emails. The product team built an agent that proactively answers employee questions in Slack, links documentation, and files tickets for new issues.
Enterprise Controls
For Enterprise and Education plans, workspace administrators control access to agent creation and deployment through role-based permissions. Agents inherit workspace context and security policies, and sharing is managed through organizational controls, according to Techstrong.ai.
OpenAI provided templates for finance, sales, marketing, and other verticals, each with built-in skills and suggested tool integrations. Examples include a software request reviewer that checks against approved tools and policies, a product feedback router that monitors Slack and support channels, and a weekly metrics reporter that pulls data, creates charts, and distributes summaries.
Pricing and Availability
The research preview is free through May 6, 2026. After that, OpenAI will transition to credit-based pricing. GPTs remain available during the preview while teams test workspace agents, and OpenAI plans to offer a conversion path from GPTs to workspace agents, per the official blog post.
Teams can currently interact with agents in ChatGPT and Slack, with additional surfaces planned.
From Chat Interface to Execution Platform
The launch repositions ChatGPT from a conversational tool to an autonomous execution layer for organizations. The combination of scheduled runs, Slack deployment, persistent memory, and code execution means these agents can handle ongoing operational work rather than single-turn queries. As Techstrong.ai noted, the release “changes how OpenAI positions ChatGPT for work,” orienting the platform toward continuous task execution rather than conversation.
This puts OpenAI in direct competition with Anthropic’s Claude Managed Agents, Google’s Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform (announced at Cloud Next 2026), and Microsoft’s Agent Framework 1.0 for the enterprise agent orchestration market.