On November 3, 2026, OpenAI announced a GPT-6 Astra-assisted test device designed to connect with Codex. OpenAI says Astra handled much of the design, but the work still needed several rounds of review because the model did not consistently account for manufacturing limits, tolerances and assembly requirements. OpenAI’s announcement describes the project as a test device.
A desk companion designed for Codex
The device was intended to give people a way to interact with Codex without opening a laptop. OpenAI says Astra defined functional requirements and designed the enclosure, internal structure, circuit board, user interface, firmware and software integrations with Codex.
Two team members worked with Astra on the side project in under a week, according to OpenAI. The project puts a hardware example alongside the model’s software work; for more context on the model, see our earlier coverage of GPT-6 Astra.
Why manufacturing needed another round
Generating a design was only part of the job. OpenAI says Astra did not consistently account for the contract manufacturer’s production limits, tolerances or assembly details, so the design went through several rounds of human review and iteration. A tolerance is the permitted variation in a part’s dimensions; parts also need to fit the factory’s processes and assemble correctly.
OpenAI says the designs had no direct human edits, while two team members worked with Astra and manufacturing preparation involved review. Those refer to different stages of the project. A contract manufacturer built a small batch of prototypes in under a month, according to OpenAI.
