Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- PCWorld explores OpenAI’s new Codex AI pets, which provide visual status indicators for desktop AI agents through customizable on-screen companions.
- These pets address a key user experience issue by displaying red clocks when agent approval is needed and green checks upon task completion.
- The feature enhances multitasking efficiency by keeping users informed of AI agent activity without constant monitoring of the main interface.
Whether I’m using Claude’s desktop Cowork application or OpenAI’s Codex coding app, I prefer that my AI agents check back with me before making high-stakes decisions. But while that makes for a safer setup, it also means my agents are often waiting around, twiddling their thumbs as they wait for me to approve their next steps.
Now, if I’m sitting and watching the Cowork or Codex apps in action, I’ll see right away when an agent is awaiting my approval. But if I’m working in another window or multitasking, I could easily miss the fact that an idled Cowork or Codex agent is sitting around, staring vacantly into space.
That’s why I’m a fan of OpenAI’s new Codex AI pets. These little animated buddies sit in the corner of your desktop, complete with thought bubbles that let you know what your Codex AI agents are up to.
While the status reports are nice, what I really like about the Codex pets is that they give you visual cues when your agents need your input or are awaiting fresh instructions. If a Codex agent is waiting for your approval before executing a command, the thought bubble will display a small red clock face. If the agent has finished a task and is ready for a new prompt, you’ll see a green checkmark.
The little red clock lets you know that your agent is waiting for your approval.
Ben Patterson/Foundry
Your Codex pet stays on top of other desktop windows and you can drag it wherever you wish; I’ve been keeping mine in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
And yes, these Codex pets are cute, and you can choose from eight pre-made versions, from the default blue “Codex” and the duck-shaped “Dewey” to “Rocky” (perfect for Project Hail Mary fans) and even the dreaded “BSOD.”
You can spawn a pet in Codex by entering the “/pet” command, and you can choose a different pet from the Appearance menu. To create your own pet, just install the “hatch pet” skill (“$skill-installer hatch-pet”) then call the skill to create your own Codex buddy (“$hatch-pet create a new pet inspired by my recent projects”).
No, there’s nothing monumental or groundbreaking about Codex pets (the terminal version of Claude Code boasts “buddies,” for example), but they’re surprisingly useful. I feel much more in the loop knowing what my AI agents are doing in the background, and now I’m wishing more agentic AI desktop apps offered similar pals.