OpenAI reports internal Codex token usage surged 56x in Research since November 2025

OpenAI’s internal reporting indicates that median output tokens for its Codex system have grown dramatically across multiple departments since November 2025. According to the data, Research saw the largest increase, with median tokens rising 56-fold by June 2026. Customer Support followed with a 32x increase, Engineering with 27x, and Legal with 13x.

The figures reflect a shift in how OpenAI employees are using Codex, with the tool becoming integral to longer-running, cross-functional tasks rather than isolated coding assistance. OpenAI Economic Research noted that, through August 2025, the average worker spent less than 10% of their tokens on Codex, indicating a rapid acceleration in adoption over the subsequent months.

The internal data underscores the growing role of agentic workflows within the organization. Commentary from OpenAI staff and external observers highlighted patterns such as the use of skills and concurrent agents, suggesting that internal tooling is evolving to support persistent, reviewable, and tool-integrated processes.

While OpenAI employees have had unlimited access to Codex, the sharp rise in usage signals a transition from underutilization to deep integration. The trend provides a baseline for evaluating concerns about "tokenmaxxing" and offers insight into how agentic systems are being operationalized in practice.