What happened
OpenAI introduced workspace agents in ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, Edu, and Teachers plans, enabling teams to create shared, cloud-based agents for complex, long-running workflows. These agents, powered by Codex, operate within organisational permissions and controls, integrating with tools like Slack to automate tasks such as report preparation, code writing, and lead qualification. Available in research preview, teams can build, share, and refine agents for specific processes.
Why it matters
This shifts how teams automate multi-step workflows, moving beyond individual prompts to shared, persistent agents that gather context and take action across tools. Procurement teams face new considerations for data governance and tool integration, as agents require explicit permissions for sensitive actions like editing spreadsheets or sending emails. This follows Adobe's recent launch of enterprise AI agents, intensifying competition for workflow automation within corporate environments.
