OPENAI LAUNCHES CODEX MICRO KEYPAD WITH WORK LOUDER

OpenAI has released its first hardware product, a physical keypad called Codex Micro developed in collaboration with keyboard manufacturer Work Louder. The device is available to order immediately for $230 from both OpenAI and Work Louder. The keypad is designed specifically to control OpenAI's Codex agentic coding feature and represents the company's initial entry into hardware production.

The Codex Micro features six frosted keys with light-emitting diodes that display agent status, alongside additional programmable keys for actions including code acceptance or rejection, thread branching and voice input activation. The device includes a dial for adjusting reasoning levels within Codex and a joystick for navigating between workflows. Work Louder has designed the keypad to allow customisation, and it ships with additional keycaps for users to assign their own controls. The product follows the design language of Work Louder's previous collaborations, including the Creator Micro 2 and the Framer Micro developed with website builder Framer.

OpenAI recently restructured its Codex application into a comprehensive platform combining standard ChatGPT functionality with Codex and a new productivity-focused agent tool called ChatGPT Work. The entire application can operate without the dedicated keypad, though the Codex Micro is intended to simplify navigation for experienced users. Work Louder has indicated on its store page that keypad availability is limited, suggesting stock may be restricted. The launch precedes OpenAI's rumoured smart speaker, a separate project developed with designer Jony Ive that has faced complications following an Apple lawsuit naming OpenAI employees Tang Yew Tan and Chang Liu as defendants.