App developers aiming to launch their programs in ChatGPT can now submit them for review and potential publication, OpenAI announced Wednesday. The company also introduced a new app directory within ChatGPT’s tools menu, which has quickly been called an “app store.”
This follows OpenAI’s October announcement about the arrival of apps inside its chatbot, a move designed to bring a broader suite of capabilities to users. Major platforms like Expedia, Spotify, Zillow, and Canva previously announced integrations, allowing users to access their services directly from chat conversations. Now, the company is opening the field to a wider array of developers.
“Apps extend ChatGPT conversations by bringing in new context and letting users take actions like order groceries, turn an outline into a slide deck, or search for an apartment,” the company stated.
OpenAI’s Apps SDK, currently in beta, provides a toolkit for developers creating new experiences for ChatGPT users. Once ready, developers can submit their apps through the OpenAI Developer platform to track approval status. A selection of approved apps will begin launching within ChatGPT in the coming year.
This represents a significant step for OpenAI in expanding the app ecosystem within ChatGPT, simultaneously giving users more reasons to use and stay within the application.