Glossary
The terminology around OpenAI Workspace Agents is evolving fast. This glossary keeps plain-English definitions for the terms that matter in 2026.
Action
An Action is a custom, OpenAPI-defined tool that extends a Workspace Agent's reach to systems without native connectors — including any REST API your team exposes.
Admin Controls
Admin Controls are the governance layer in a ChatGPT Business or Enterprise workspace that defines who can build agents, which connectors they can use, and what's logged.
Agent Credits
Agent Credits are OpenAI's usage-based billing unit for Workspace Agents, consumed per agent invocation based on model, runtime length, and tool calls.
ChatGPT Agent Mode
ChatGPT Agent Mode is the mode of ChatGPT in which the assistant operates as an autonomous agent — planning multi-step work, calling tools, and executing without needing a human turn between each step.
ChatGPT Business
ChatGPT Business is OpenAI's plan for small-to-mid-market teams, priced per user, including access to Workspace Agents, shared projects, and basic admin controls.
ChatGPT Enterprise
ChatGPT Enterprise is OpenAI's top-tier team plan — custom-priced, with SSO, SCIM, extended audit logs, custom DPA, and HIPAA BAA availability on top of the Workspace Agents capability set.
Codex
Codex is OpenAI's code-execution runtime — the engine that lets agents run code, handle multi-step execution, and interact with external systems inside Workspace Agents and related products.
Connector
A connector is a native OAuth integration between a Workspace Agent and an external business system, giving the agent permission to read and (optionally) write to that system.
Custom GPT
A Custom GPT is a configured version of ChatGPT with custom instructions, uploaded knowledge, and optional Actions — designed to be invoked by users on demand, not to run autonomously.
Workspace Agent
A Workspace Agent is an autonomous, team-scoped AI agent inside ChatGPT Business or Enterprise that plans multi-step tasks, calls connected tools, and runs continuously on a team's behalf.