ChatGPT, OpenAI’s AI-powered chatbot platform, now offers direct code editing—but only for macOS users.
Code Editing in Supported Editors
The latest version of the ChatGPT macOS app allows code modifications in Xcode, VS Code, and JetBrains. Users can enable the “auto-apply” mode to let ChatGPT make edits without manual approval.
Starting Thursday, ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team subscribers can access this feature by updating their macOS app. OpenAI plans to extend the rollout to Enterprise, Edu, and free users next week.
Windows Support Coming Soon
In a post on X, OpenAI fellow Alexander Embirikos confirmed that the ChatGPT Windows app will also receive direct code editing capabilities “soon.”
This feature builds on ChatGPT’s “Work with apps,” launched in beta in November 2024, which enables the app to read code across multiple programming environments. This reduces the need for copying and pasting code between ChatGPT and development tools.
Competing with AI Coding Assistants
With direct code editing, ChatGPT is entering competition with AI-powered coding tools like Cursor and GitHub Copilot. OpenAI is also reportedly working on a dedicated product for software engineering.
AI coding assistants are becoming increasingly popular, with a GitHub survey showing that most developers now use AI tools in some capacity. Y Combinator partner Jared Friedman recently stated that a quarter of YC W25 startups have codebases that are 95% AI-generated.
However, AI-generated code comes with security, copyright, and reliability risks, notes NIXSolutions. A study by software provider Harness found that developers often spend more time debugging AI-generated code and fixing security vulnerabilities compared to human-written code. Meanwhile, a Google report highlighted that while AI can speed up code reviews and improve documentation, it may also reduce delivery stability.
We’ll keep you updated as OpenAI expands its AI-powered development tools.