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OpenAI's new Agents API gives developers the infrastructure behind Codex and ChatGPT
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- DeepHorus
On September 11, 2026, OpenAI launched the Agents API in public beta, giving developers the infrastructure behind Codex and ChatGPT. The API enables cloud-based agents that run for hours, execute code, and process files. It marks a step toward making advanced agentic AI widely available.
The API builds on the open-source Codex harness and supports MCP, custom functions, and built-in tools like web search. Key features include automatic context management, parallel tool use, and delegation to sub-agents. These let developers build complex workflows without managing infrastructure.
Developers can run agents in OpenAI-hosted sandboxes or on partner infrastructure from Cloudflare, Vercel, and Oracle. This lets teams place agents near their existing applications and data. OpenAI charges no extra platform fees; billing is based solely on token usage.
The release lowers the barrier to building production-grade AI agents. Previously, developers had to assemble context handling, tool execution, and sandboxing themselves. OpenAI is now packaging proven infrastructure from its own products into a managed service.
Industry observers see this as part of a broader shift toward agentic AI platforms. By supporting MCP and multiple sandbox providers, OpenAI positions the API as an open foundation. Oracle's inclusion also signals enterprise demand for AI agent workloads.
The public beta will likely evolve with developer feedback. As organizations deploy long-running agents, reliability and cost control will be key concerns. Token-based pricing may keep usage predictable, though large deployments still need optimization.
For now, the Agents API gives developers a direct path from prototype to production using the same infrastructure behind two of the most widely used AI products. The coming months will show how quickly the ecosystem adopts it. Developers can begin testing immediately through OpenAI's platform.
