OpenAI has just rolled out a major update that fundamentally changes how users interact with artificial intelligence: the introduction of Apps in ChatGPT. This isn’t just a simple link or a plugin; it’s a new generation of deep, conversational integrations that bring the power of major services directly into your chat window.
This shift transforms ChatGPT from a powerful assistant into a true productivity hub. Whether you’re a user looking to streamline tasks or a developer eager to reach over 800 million users, here’s your comprehensive guide to the biggest advancement in the AI ecosystem.
What Are ChatGPT Apps? The Future of Conversational AI
ChatGPT apps are interactive tools that live inside your conversation, blending the familiar fluidity of natural language with the functionality of dedicated apps.
Instead of interrupting your workflow to jump to a different website, you can now seamlessly call up external services. This is designed to be completely natural:
- Discovery: ChatGPT can intelligently suggest a relevant app based on your ongoing conversation. For example, discussing a travel budget might prompt the appearance of the Booking.com or Expedia app.
- Direct Access: You can call the app by name in your prompt, like saying, “Spotify, make a playlist for my Friday night party,” and the app will surface and perform the action.
- Interactive Elements: These aren’t just text responses. Apps can include interactive interfaces right in the chat window, such as maps from Zillow to browse house listings or presentation screens from Canva to build a deck from an outline.
Supercharge Your Productivity: Key Integrations Available Today
A select group of pilot partners launched with the new feature, showcasing the immediate utility of these new ChatGPT integrations.
| App Partner | Use Case Example |
| Canva | Transforming a simple text outline into a professional slide deck or presentation. |
| Zillow | Browsing current real estate listings on an interactive map, all within ChatGPT. |
| Spotify | Generating and customizing music playlists based on a specific mood or event. |
| Coursera | Getting instant explanations or elaborations on content while watching a video course. |
| Booking.com / Expedia | Searching, comparing, and booking travel and accommodations. |
| Figma | Aiding in design workflows and file accessibility. |
The blending of conversation and interaction means you can start a project with text and finish it with a polished, app-delivered result—all in one place.
Building the Future: The New Apps SDK for Developers 👩💻
For developers, the launch of ChatGPT apps is an enormous opportunity to tap into a massive, engaged user base.
The core technology powering this is the new Apps SDK (Software Development Kit), which OpenAI is releasing as an open standard.
- Massive Reach: Building with the Apps SDK offers direct access to the hundreds of millions of people who use ChatGPT.
- Open Standard: The SDK builds on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing developers to design both the chat logic and the user interface for their apps. By making it open source, OpenAI is fostering an ecosystem where these apps can potentially run anywhere that adopts the standard.
- Flexibility: Developers can use their existing backend code, allowing current customers to log in and access premium features seamlessly within the ChatGPT environment.
OpenAI is planning to open app submissions for review later this year, followed by a dedicated directory where users can browse and search for new tools. Details on monetization are also expected soon.
Safety, Privacy, and What’s Next
OpenAI is prioritizing a safe environment for this new ecosystem.
- Data Transparency: The first time you use an app, you are prompted to explicitly connect, ensuring you understand exactly what data may be shared with the app developer.
- Clear Standards: All apps must adhere to OpenAI’s usage policies, be appropriate for all audiences, and comply with strict developer guidelines to ensure a high-quality experience.
Currently, ChatGPT apps are available in preview to logged-in Free, Go, Plus, and Pro users outside the EU, Switzerland, and the UK. They will be rolling out to Business, Enterprise, and Education customers later this year, along with broader international availability.
The introduction of ChatGPT apps marks the beginning of a truly agentic AI platform, where conversation is the operating system for accessing the world’s most useful tools. It’s time to start chatting your way to greater productivity.
