Cognizant, OpenAI partner to expand Codex use in enterprise software engineering

Cognizant has been selected by OpenAI as one of a group of global partners to deploy Codex across enterprise clients. The agreement focuses on integrating Codex into Cognizant’s Software Engineering Group workflows and standardizing its use in software delivery.

OpenAI said it is working with systems integrators that can implement Codex in large and complex enterprise environments. Cognizant’s selection is based on its experience in deploying AI systems across industries and within its own operations.

Cognizant plans to use Codex across software development tasks including code generation, refactoring, testing, and documentation. The company said engineers are already applying the system in client projects covering AI model development, agent-based systems, and legacy modernization.

The companies said Codex can help reduce delivery timelines, improve code quality, and lower the cost and risk of large transformation projects. Legacy system upgrades, often delayed due to complexity and compliance concerns, are a primary focus area.

OpenAI said the partnership aims to move enterprises from early experimentation to repeatable deployment of AI in engineering workflows. Cognizant will integrate Codex into its broader AI stack, which includes multiple platforms and cloud providers.

Both firms said the collaboration will focus on scaling AI-driven engineering, modernization, and security compliance across industries, with an emphasis on workflow integration and operational deployment.

Rajesh Varrier, President – Global Operations and Chairman & Managing Director, Cognizant India, "We are embedding Codex as a partner in how our engineers work – handling code generation, refactoring, testing and documentation – so our teams can apply human judgment where it is needed most. OpenAI brings frontier intelligence. Cognizant brings enterprise scale, deep industry expertise and the governance rigor that industry requires."

Denise Dresser, Chief Revenue Officer, OpenAI, said, "Cognizant's deep expertise in large-scale software transformation enables enterprises to deploy Codex across areas like legacy code modernization, code review automation, vulnerability detection, and application development, while extending its impact to the systems and workflows where knowledge work gets done. We will work together to bring Codex to organizations worldwide."