# Creating Personalized Mac Apps with ChatGPT and Codex AI assistant Codex enables users to develop custom Mac applications tailored to their specific needs. - **Source:** [9to5Mac](https://brifing.si/source/59447403-ce5b-427c-8132-8614f549929a) - **Published:** 2026-08-31 - **Topic:** [Data & AI](https://brifing.si/c/data-ai) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/b93ef6b2-2b0e-4c68-8811-c0eb7c58dbca ## Codex's Mac Experience OpenAI's Codex tool, as part of the ChatGPT desktop app, allows users to create AI-powered personalized solutions on their Macs. The Computer Use feature added in April 2024 enables Codex to view, click, and type into Mac applications. This technology was developed by the creators of Workflow, an app acquired by Apple in 2017. Codex represents the next evolution of automation tools for personal computing. ## From Workflow to Codex Codex technology has its roots in the Workflow app developed by Ari Weinstein and team in 2014. Acquired by Apple in 2017, the app was later renamed Shortcuts. After leaving Apple, Weinstein's team was acquired by OpenAI and worked on a Mac assistant called Sky. While Sky never launched publicly, its technology emerged as Codex's Computer Use feature in April 2024. ## Personal Project: Flow App The author created their first personal project using Codex - a Mac application called Flow designed to monitor app releases and updates. Previously relying on iTunes and iPhone Mirroring, the author now benefits from this custom solution perfectly tailored to their needs. The app icon features the author's handwritten initial, created using Apple Pencil on iPad Pro and finalized with Apple's Icon Composer. ## Screen Management Solutions Using Codex, the author developed narrow columns (275 pixels each) for social media and RSS feeds, specifically designed for macOS 27 Golden Gate. Integrated with X2 and Flume, this solution creates ample workspace in the center while preventing window overlap. The toolbar colors can be customized according to user preference, maintaining visual appeal even in inactive windows. ## Better Remote Project Better Remote, another Codex-powered project by the author, is available on Mac App Store. This application makes tvOS feel like a native Mac app. Started in June 2024, it became the author's main side project throughout the summer. Updates for Better Remote are currently in the queue, eagerly anticipated by users. ## Better Battery Development Codex enables customization of system tools like Better Battery, which matches macOS 27 Golden Gate aesthetics while improving power management efficiency. Users can personalize both interface and functionality according to their specific requirements. This project demonstrates Codex's creative potential for developing tailored system utilities. ## Learning Curve with Codex The author initially found Codex more intimidating than ChatGPT but learned through its game-like Pets feature. Over time, ChatGPT without Codex began to feel like a toy by comparison. This transition illustrates the stages of user adaptation to AI tools. Codex accommodates learning at individual paces, making advanced automation accessible to non-programmers. ## Personalized Productivity Codex revolutionizes productivity by enabling Mac users to create tools perfectly aligned with their unique needs. Every detail - from column widths to color schemes and functionality - can be customized. This approach transcends limitations of standard software solutions, allowing completely personalized digital workspaces. Codex is pioneering a new era of AI-assisted personalization in computing. ## Sources covering this story - https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/31/codex-report-four-months-of-building-joy-on-my-mac-with-chatgpt/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._