Jack Paul 
OpenAI plans to test a combined interface for ChatGPT Chat and Work, according to an email seen by BleepingComputer. The idea is straightforward: users should move from a quick question to a finished project without jumping between tools. The company will start with a small group of users.
One conversation, two jobs
Chat has been the place for short questions and brainstorming. Work handles longer jobs, such as research, spreadsheets, reports, presentations, and published Sites. The merged version would put files, connected plugins, and agent monitoring into one conversation. Codex stays separate.
Anthropic moves first
Anthropic moved first. It said Cowork and chat are merging into one Claude. That unified experience rolled out to Pro, Max, and Ultra subscribers, with Enterprise following later. Anthropic also introduced Claude Docs and Slides. ChatGPT Work offers similar features, including published Sites. Both companies want users to complete tasks without switching tools.
Usage costs become the test
The interface change also raises a practical question: how much allowance will longer tasks use? OpenAI already shares allowance between Work and Codex, and users can buy credits when they run out. In December, Plus, Pro, and Business subscribers will share a token-based allowance across ChatGPT and Codex. Instant chat won’t count toward that limit. Users can check remaining allowance and reset times under Settings and Usage.
OpenAI also doubled Work and Codex allowances for some Pro subscribers on October 29. Faster performance can cost more. On the Pro $500 plan, Ultrafast uses included usage at eight times the standard rate, then draws credits at six times the standard rate.
Adoption and price clarity
Gartner expects spending on AI agents and assistants to rise from $29.2 billion in 2026 to $65.5 billion in 2027. Total AI spending could hit $2.67 trillion this year. Yet adoption remains uneven. An IDC study of 1,900 organizations found just 3.1% at the highest maturity stage, while 61.3% were in the two earliest stages.
Price predictability could be decisive. Cryptopolitan reported complaints from Codex users whose allowances appeared to drain unusually fast. OpenAI executive Thibault Sottiaux disputed claims of undisclosed cuts. Kingy AI first called the claims supported but unproven. It later shifted to partly confirmed and said a blanket cut was unproven after acknowledging cache-efficiency problems. As assistants take on more work, predictable costs may matter as much as their capabilities.