As AI technology progresses, virtual companions are increasingly becoming an integral part of various sectors. OpenAI is now embracing this trend with the introduction of Codex Pets, an animated companion feature embedded within its AI coding tool.
While Codex Pets may not handle complex tasks, it serves a valuable role as a floating overlay that provides real-time project status updates, minimizing the need to constantly switch between tabs. Users can easily keep track of ongoing discussions and whether Codex is actively running, awaiting input, or ready for review—all while maintaining focus on their current work.
Setting up Codex Pets is simple. Navigate to Settings, select Appearance, and choose the Pets option to explore what’s available. After activation, you can toggle the floating overlay on or off by entering /pet in the composer, using Wake Pet or Tuck Away Pet in Settings > Appearance, or by pressing Cmd+K on Mac or Ctrl+K on Windows.
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This feature includes eight built-in pet variations, such as a cat and dog. However, the standout element is the custom pet creator. Users can directly prompt Codex to design their own unique companion and share it online. A quick browse through the homepage shows that the community is already engaged. Some creations so far include Goku, Patrick Star, the long-retired Clippy from Microsoft, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and, humorously, a goblin.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, the parent company of Mashable, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, claiming it violated Ziff Davis copyrights in the training and operation of its AI systems.
Topics
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI
