OpenAI Releases Codex Micro, a Stupid $230 Hardware Keypad

OpenAI released Codex Micro, a $230 hardware keypad for its Codex development tool, despite previous promises to focus on core products and avoid distractions. The keypad comes months after OpenAI spent hundreds of millions on a YouTube show, drawing criticism for straying from its mission.

Remember back in March https://daringfireball.net/linked/2026/03/24/openai-superapp when then-co-CEO Fidji Simo announced to the company https://www.wsj.com/tech/openai-plans-launch-of-desktop-superapp-to-refocus-simplify-user-experience-9e19931d?st=25wiu1 that “We cannot miss this moment because we are distracted by side quests”? And then weeks later they spent “low hundreds of millions” to purchase the TBPN YouTube show https://daringfireball.net/linked/2026/04/02/openai-tbpn ? In their continuing effort to focus on core product, they’re now selling a $230 hardware keypad https://x.com/OpenAIDevs/status/2077425991790870644 ostensibly for working with Codex, which is no longer an app but just a tab in their craptacular super app. No way, that’s crazy. I’ve just been using the keyboard and trackpad that came on my laptop for free like a stupid idiot.