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Quick Links: | Prerequisites | ChatGPT Work vs. Chat | Work in the Cloud and Work on the Desktop | Request Access to ChatGPT Work | Use ChatGPT Work | Troubleshooting |
ChatGPT Work is an agentic mode in ChatGPT designed to carry out multi-step work rather than only respond to individual prompts. Work can use a code execution environment with internet access, operate a browser, maintain files across Work sessions, use specialized Skills, and delegate parts of complex tasks to sub-agents. These capabilities allow Work to research, analyze information, interact with websites, and create finished deliverables such as documents, spreadsheets, presentations, reports, and websites. Work is available in both cloud and local forms, with different access to files and applications.
Prerequisites
- Access to the Chico State ChatGPT Edu workspace.
- ChatGPT Work must be enabled for your account.
Current Chico State students, faculty, and staff are eligible for the Chico State ChatGPT Edu workspace
How Work Differs from Chat
Chat and Work can both answer questions and help create content, but they are designed for different kinds of tasks. Chat is primarily a conversational environment for asking questions, brainstorming, analyzing information, and creating content through an interactive conversation. Work provides an agentic environment for completing larger or more complex tasks. Work can:
- Run code in an environment with internet access.
- Operate a browser to load and interact with websites.
- Maintain a persistent working filesystem so files can remain available across Work sessions.
- Use sub-agents to perform portions of a larger task in parallel.
- Use Skills that provide specialized capabilities for tasks such as creating documents, manipulating spreadsheets, working with PDFs, generating images, creating websites, and analyzing data.
Chat and Work also use separate usage pools. Regular Chat uses your Chat usage quota. ChatGPT Work uses your Codex usage quota, meaning Work and Codex draw from the same usage pool. Your Codex and Work usage pool is smaller than the Chat usage pool and includes both a 5-hour usage limit and a weekly usage limit. Using Work reduces the same balances used by Codex. Be mindful of your model and effort selections when using Work so that longer or more complex tasks do not exhaust your available Codex usage. You can monitor your remaining 5-hour and weekly balances, including when each limit resets, on the Codex usage analytics page.
Be AI Safe: Because Work can interact with websites and other resources on your behalf, review actions and results carefully, particularly when a task involves institutional data, authenticated websites, or external communications. ChatGPT Work must not be used with Level 1 or Level 2 data. For more information on acceptable use polices, see the Chico State Guidelines on AI Coding Assistance.
Work in the Cloud and Work on the Desktop
ChatGPT Work can run in two environments:
- Work in the Cloud runs in OpenAI's cloud. You can use it from ChatGPT on the web, mobile apps, and the ChatGPT desktop app. Cloud Work conversations sync across supported devices.
- Work on the Desktop runs through the ChatGPT desktop app on macOS and Windows. It can work directly with local files and desktop applications when you grant permission. ChatGPT Desktop Work conversations remain on that computer.
The desktop app supports both Cloud and Desktop Work conversations. Work on web and mobile runs in the cloud.
Request Access to ChatGPT Work
To request access to ChatGPT Work, do the following:
- Open the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Support / Feedback service.
- Select Request Service.
- AI Product(s) Used = Check box next to ChatGPT Edu.
- Type of Request = Feature
- Feature Requested = ChatGPT Work
- Provide any requested information about your intended use.
- Submit the request.
In most cases, your request can be processed and approved automatically. If your request needs additional information, the Division of IT may reach out to you before enabling ChatGPT Work access.
Use ChatGPT Work
After Work has been enabled for your account:
- Sign in to ChatGPT with Chico State Single Sign-On.
- Confirm that you are in the Chico State ChatGPT Edu workspace.
- Select Work.
- Describe the outcome you want Work to produce and provide any relevant files, requirements, or constraints.
- Review Work's progress and respond when it requests information, permission, or a decision.
- Review the completed work before using or sharing it.
Work is most useful when a task requires multiple steps or tools, such as researching a subject and producing a report, analyzing data and creating a spreadsheet, working across several files, interacting with websites, or producing a finished deliverable.
Troubleshooting
Work does not appear in ChatGPT Edu. Confirm that you are signed in to the Chico State ChatGPT Edu workspace and that Work access has been enabled for your account. If you have not requested Work access, submit an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Support / Feedback service request and state that you are requesting ChatGPT Work.
I lost access to ChatGPT Work. If Work access was previously enabled but is no longer available, submit an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Support / Feedback request and describe the access issue.
I need a higher usage limit. Currently, Chico State is not able to raise your ChatGPT usage limits. If you find that you are using your usage quota too quickly, consider using smaller models like Terra or Luna for everyday tasks or lower effort levels. Use larger models like Sol and higher effort levels only when frontier intelligence is needed.
Still need help? Open a support ticket with the ChatGPT Edu team for additional support.
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