OpenAI has introduced a significant upgrade to its ChatGPT app for macOS, enabling direct code editing in supported developer tools such as Xcode, VS Code, and JetBrains.
The latest update allows users to activate an “auto-apply” mode, permitting ChatGPT to make changes without requiring additional confirmation clicks.
Subscribers to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team can access the feature immediately by updating their macOS app. OpenAI has announced plans to extend the functionality to Enterprise, Edu, and free users next week.
In a post on X, Alexander Embiricos, a product staff member at OpenAI working on desktop software, confirmed that Windows users can expect similar functionality “soon.”
This development builds upon OpenAI’s “work with apps” capability, introduced in beta in November 2024. That feature enabled the ChatGPT app to read code within select development environments, reducing the need to copy and paste code manually.
With direct code editing, ChatGPT is positioning itself as a stronger competitor to AI-powered coding tools like Cursor and GitHub Copilot. OpenAI is reportedly planning to launch a dedicated software engineering support product in the coming months.
AI-driven coding assistants have surged in popularity, with GitHub’s latest survey revealing widespread adoption among developers. Y Combinator partner Jared Friedman recently stated that 25% of startups in the accelerator’s Winter 2025 batch rely on AI for 95% of their codebases.
Despite the growing reliance on AI in software development, concerns remain over security, copyright issues, and code reliability. A survey by software vendor Harness found that developers spend more time debugging AI-generated code and addressing security vulnerabilities than with human-written code.
Additionally, a Google report noted that while AI-assisted coding can accelerate code reviews and improve documentation, it may also compromise delivery stability.
