OpenAI has announced an application directory that is now available directly within ChatGPT. “The apps extend ChatGPT conversations by bringing new context and allowing users to take actions like ordering groceries, turning an outline into a slide deck or searching for an apartment,” the company wrote in a blog post. Blog post. OpenAI also noted in a Help document Connector applications like Google Drive are now simply called “apps.”
The new Apps section (on iOS, Android, and web) is divided into Features, Lifestyle, and Productivity categories, letting you connect to commonly used apps and sites like Booking.com, Spotify, and Dropbox. To use an app, simply click on it, press Connect, and then allow the app to access ChatGPT. After that is done, you can then start a conversation related to that app. In the case of Dropbox, for example, you’ll be able to “collect ideas, prepare summaries, and summarize internal reports or documents,” according to the description. Once connected, any application can be accessed by @mentioning it.
The new addition that came with the store is the Apple Music app which, like Spotify, helps users find music, create playlists, and manage their libraries through a chat interface. Another app is DoorDash, which lets you turn recipes, meal planning, and pantry staples into a “walkable shopping cart.”
Along with the App Directory, OpenAI now allows developers to submit apps for review and deployment in ChatGPT based on the company’s app submission. Guidelines. It has also published resources to help developers create such applications, including: Best practicesOpen source example implementations, An open source UI library for native and step-by-step chat interfaces Quick start guide. This is in addition to the software development kit (SDK) that OpenAI introduced in October.
OpenAI noted that currently, developers can only monetize apps by linking from a ChatGPT app to a native app or website — but the company is exploring internal monetization options as well. Privacy has also been emphasized, with companies being required to provide “clear” policies.
The new feature is a big part of Sam Altman’s promise to make ChatGPT more versatile with the addition of custom “GPT” bots. “Over time, we want apps in ChatGPT to feel like a natural extension of conversation, helping people move from ideas to action, while building a thriving developer ecosystem,” the company wrote.