What can Codex do with Probably?
Codex can start a UGC video ad in Probably from a brief, follow its progress, ask for changes, make variants and share the delivered video, without leaving the terminal.
Codex doesn't film anything itself. It talks to Probably's AI creative crew through the MCP server, and reports what the crew did. It suits a script or a CI job as well as a chat: Codex can make ads as one step in a longer task. For a walk-through from setup to a finished ad, read how to make video ads with Claude and Codex.
Add the server
In your terminal, run: codex mcp add probably --url https://studio.probably.co/api/mcp. Codex saves it to ~/.codex/config.toml. You can write the same entry yourself: a [mcp_servers.probably] table with url set to https://studio.probably.co/api/mcp.
Sign in
Run: codex mcp login probably. Your browser opens Probably's sign-in and a consent page, where you choose the organization, optionally one Space, and whether Codex may start paid work after you confirm it in the chat.
Ask for a video
Ask Codex to list your Spaces, then to prepare a video from a brief. It shows you the preview before anything is spent.
Codex defaults to OAuth for servers like this one. These commands were checked against OpenAI's Codex MCP documentation on 25 October 2026. The full steps are in the Codex quickstart.
Can you use an API key instead of signing in?
Yes, for places without a browser. Create a key in Settings, Connections and put it in PROBABLY_API_KEY. In the server's table in ~/.codex/config.toml, add bearer_token_env_var set to PROBABLY_API_KEY, then run codex. Codex sends the key as a bearer token on every call. A key that may spend must be limited to one Space with a spend cap. See authentication.
“List my Probably Spaces, then prepare a 15-second TikTok for our reef-safe sunscreen in the Trail Space.”
“Show me the preview. If I say go, confirm it and wait until it's delivered.”
“Make three variants of that video with different hooks.”
Does Codex have Probably recipes?
Yes. Probably publishes its recipes as skills that Codex reads from ~/.agents/skills: testing five hooks for a product, turning a winning ad into a brief, research then a script, and checking on your videos. Each one follows the spend rule and waits for your yes. Setup is in the plugin docs.
Which tools does Probably's MCP server offer?
The app can read your Spaces and videos, prepare and revise ads, steer the crew, answer a video's storyboard and voice check-ins, approve and share deliveries; only confirm_spend and fix_word start paid work.
An app is offered the tools its permissions cover: reading, making changes, and starting paid work. Every tool, with its inputs, is in the MCP tool reference.
| Job | Tools | Permission |
|---|---|---|
| Look around | list_spaces, list_videos, get_video, wait_for_video, get_media, get_credits, list_formats, list_personas, list_products, list_assets, read_link | Read |
| Make a video | prepare_video, prepare_variants, prepare_regenerate, prepare_apply_change | Make changes |
| Do one stage on its own | research, brainstorm, write_script, review, generate_clip, voice, get_stage | Make changes |
| Steer the crew | send_message, approve_delivery, stop_video, discard_change, withdraw_instruction, send_instruction_now | Make changes |
| Answer check-ins | approve_storyboard, skip_storyboard, approve_listen, skip_listen, keep_word | Make changes |
| Share a delivered video | share_video, revoke_share | Make changes |
| Keep a brand's facts | create_space, save_persona, save_product, begin_upload, complete_upload | Make changes |
| Start paid work | confirm_spend, fix_word | Spend |
Does the agent spend my credits on its own?
No. Paid work is prepared first, shown to you with its cost, and started only by a separate confirm_spend call after you agree.
Prepare
A prepare tool, or a stage such as research, answers with a preview and a confirmation. Nothing is spent.
Look at the preview
It says whether your credits cover the work, or the cap a stage can charge, and whether it uses the free first draft.
Confirm
Once you agree, the app calls confirm_spend. It starts exactly the work the preview showed. Confirming twice starts it once.
A connection that may not spend still prepares work. Its answer carries a link to a page in the studio where you see the same preview and confirm it yourself. Whichever you choose when you connect, the same credits, spend caps and free first draft apply as in the studio. See spend confirmations.
Confirmations expire, so a stale preview never spends. Names, briefs and messages reach the app as content, not instructions, and nothing anyone writes can confirm a spend. Revoke a connection any time in Settings, Connections; its next call is refused.
Frequently asked questions
Can Codex make video ads?
Codex writes and steers; Probably makes the video. Connect Codex to Probably's MCP server and it can start a UGC video ad from a brief, follow it and revise it, with the crew doing the filming and editing. It asks you before it spends.
How do I sign in to Probably from Codex?
Run codex mcp login probably and sign in in your browser. Or read an API key from an environment variable with bearer_token_env_var, where nobody can open a browser.
Where is Codex's MCP configuration?
In ~/.codex/config.toml, as a [mcp_servers.<name>] table. codex mcp add writes it for you.
Can Codex spend my credits without asking?
No. Every paid step is prepared first and shown to you, and only confirm_spend starts it, after you agree. Without the spend permission, you confirm in the studio instead. See spend confirmations.
Does connecting Codex cost anything?
Connecting is free. Work the app starts uses your credits, as in the studio, and your first draft is free with a new account; see pricing.
How do I disconnect Codex?
Revoke the connection in Settings, Connections. Its next call is refused, and an admin can revoke any member's connection.
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