OpenAI has opened ChatGPT to third-party developers, allowing them to submit apps for approval and list them in a new in-chat directory that functions much like an app store.
Developers can now send their apps for review through OpenAI’s developer platform, changing how ChatGPT is used, from a single tool to a platform where outside services run inside conversations.
A built-in app directory is already live within the tools menu, giving users a way to search for and access published apps without leaving ChatGPT.
This development builds on OpenAI’s earlier decision to let selected partners plug their services into chat. Travel booking, music streaming, design tools and property searches are among the first use cases.
According to the company, “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.”
In keeping users inside ChatGPT while they complete everyday tasks, OpenAI is working towards making the product a central workspace rather than a stopover tool.
To support developers, OpenAI is offering an Apps SDK, still in beta, alongside design libraries, example projects and practical guides. Once an app is submitted, developers can track its review status and, if approved, make it available to users globally or in selected countries. The first wave of approved apps is expected to roll out gradually next year.
Apps can be activated directly in conversations by mentioning them by name or choosing them from the tools menu. OpenAI is also testing ways to suggest relevant apps mid-conversation, based on what the user is trying to do. Feedback options are built in, giving users a say in what works and what does not.
For now, payments happen outside ChatGPT. Developers can link users to their own websites or mobile apps to complete purchases, particularly for physical goods. OpenAI says it is testing additional payment options and plans to expand into digital products and subscriptions over time.
Safety and privacy sit at the centre of the ChatGPT app store rollout. Every app must include a clear privacy policy and request only the data needed to function. Users are shown what information may be shared before connecting an app, and they can disconnect at any time, cutting off access immediately.
