The desktop app should default to Chat, rather than Work/Codex.
Most people begin with an ordinary request: a question, a draft email, an explanation, or a piece of analysis. Starting in Work/Codex makes those requests feel unnecessarily technical, puts users into a project/workspace context they did not ask for, and requires them to understand the distinction between Chat, Work, and Codex before they can simply begin.
A better flow would be:
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Start every new conversation in Chat.
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Let Chat assess whether the request can be handled directly.
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When a request would benefit from more capable tools or a longer-running workflow, offer a clear, optional hand-off to Work or Codex, explaining why.
For example: “This looks like a multi-step document task. Would you like me to continue in Work?” Or: “This involves editing a local codebase. Would you like me to continue in Codex?”
This preserves the simple, familiar ChatGPT experience while still making Work and Codex available when they genuinely add value. It would remove the current friction and confusion for non-technical users without limiting power users.