Recently appointed as head of OpenAI’s core products, Thibault Sottiaux is directing a comprehensive revamp of ChatGPT, aiming to merge it with Codex into a groundbreaking AI super app that could redefine how millions interact with artificial intelligence.
- Sottiaux moves from AI coding product to leading ChatGPT overhaul
- OpenAI aims to build a proactive, intelligent personal assistant
- Super app will blend capabilities from multiple AI tools for diverse tasks
What happened
Thibault Sottiaux, an influential engineer at OpenAI who helped develop the Codex AI coding assistant, has been appointed head of the company’s core product division. In this role, he oversees both ChatGPT and Codex, driving their integration into a future “super app.” This new platform is intended to consolidate various AI functionalities into a single interface.
OpenAI has already discontinued multiple standalone products, such as its video app Sora and an AI platform tailored for scientists, signaling a strategic focus on this unified AI experience. Sottiaux now directly reports to Greg Brockman as the company navigates leadership adjustments during the CEO’s medical leave.
Why it matters
The transformation of ChatGPT into a super app represents a fundamental shift in OpenAI’s consumer and enterprise AI strategy. By combining conversational AI with automated coding, data retrieval, and task automation, the company aims to create the world’s most capable personal AI agent that anticipates user needs and delivers timely assistance.
This move is critical for OpenAI as it prepares for an upcoming IPO and faces mounting competition from industry rivals like Google and Anthropic. Success in building a differentiated super app could secure OpenAI’s leadership in the broader AI ecosystem and fuel growth across various markets.
What to watch next
Over the next year, expect OpenAI to gradually unveil new ChatGPT features reflecting a more proactive, personalized assistant. The platform will likely integrate deep memory capabilities to manage complex user preferences—such as dietary restrictions or workflow automation—without exposing the underlying technical processes.
Key indicators of progress will include user adoption rates, the seamless blending of Codex-powered coding with ChatGPT’s conversational abilities, and how effectively the super app handles real-world tasks like scheduling, information retrieval, and workplace automation.