OpenAI has begun allowing developers to submit third-party apps for review and publication directly within ChatGPT, marking a major step toward turning the chatbot into a broader platform for task execution.
Once approved, these apps will appear in a new ChatGPT app directory accessible across web, mobile, and desktop versions of the chatbot.
With this move, developers can integrate their apps so that ChatGPT’s AI agent can access their interfaces and complete tasks on behalf of users through simple text prompts. OpenAI said the feature will enable use cases such as ordering groceries, creating slide decks from outlines, or searching for apartments without leaving the chat interface.
The app integration capability was first announced at OpenAI’s DevDay event in October.
Several well-known apps already work within ChatGPT, including Adobe, Booking.com, Canva, Expedia, Figma, Instacart, Spotify, Target, and others. Users can find these by opening the sidebar and navigating to the Apps section.
Developers can start by building with OpenAI’s Apps SDK, which is currently in beta and designed to support chat-native experiences inside ChatGPT. OpenAI has also released documentation, best practices, sample apps, and an open-source UI library to assist developers. After testing their apps through the Developer Platform Dashboard, developers can submit them for review.
OpenAI said all submissions will undergo automated scans and manual reviews to ensure they meet the company’s quality, safety, and privacy standards. Apps that fail to comply may be rejected or removed from the directory. Developers can monitor the status of their submissions through the dashboard.
Privacy safeguards are a key requirement of the programme. Developers must provide clear privacy policies and request only the data necessary for app functionality. When users connect an app, ChatGPT will show what information may be shared and display the app’s privacy policy. Users can disconnect apps at any time, immediately revoking access.
For now, OpenAI clarified that transactions for physical goods must be completed outside ChatGPT, either on developers’ own websites or native apps. The company said it plans to introduce new monetisation options in the future, including support for digital goods.
Meanwhile, OpenAI continues to expand its app ecosystem. Apple Music has now been added to the ChatGPT app directory, allowing subscribers to create playlists and search for music using natural language prompts. OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, Fidji Simo, has also said that Salesforce will soon be available within ChatGPT.
The announcement comes shortly after an OpenAI executive said the company envisions ChatGPT evolving into an “operating system” for AI-powered interactions, underscoring the strategic importance of opening the platform to third-party developers.