OpenAI announced that developers can now submit apps for review and publication within ChatGPT, extending conversations with context and actions such as ordering groceries or searching for apartments, accessible via a new app directory at chatgpt.com/apps.
Earlier this year during DevDay, OpenAI introduced the concept of apps integrated into ChatGPT. As of today, developers gain the ability to submit their apps for OpenAI’s review process and subsequent publication directly in ChatGPT. This submission requires adherence to specific app submission guidelines provided by OpenAI.
These apps function by extending ongoing ChatGPT conversations through the addition of specialized context. They enable users to perform practical actions that arise naturally from discussions. Examples include placing orders for groceries, transforming textual outlines into formatted slide decks, and conducting searches for available apartments. Such capabilities allow conversations to transition seamlessly from ideation to execution.
To support developers in creating apps that align with user expectations, OpenAI has released a set of targeted resources. These draw from insights gathered since the initial DevDay announcement. The resources encompass best-practice guides that outline the elements constituting a great ChatGPT app.
Developers also receive access to open-source example apps, which serve as practical templates. An additional open-sourced UI library facilitates the development of interfaces native to chat environments, ensuring seamless integration. A step-by-step quickstart guide provides sequential instructions for initial setup and deployment.
Within ChatGPT itself, OpenAI has implemented an app directory for user discovery. This directory permits browsing of featured apps or searching across all published apps. Users access it through the tools menu inside ChatGPT or directly via the web address chatgpt.com/apps. Developers enhance visibility by incorporating deep links on external platforms, which direct users straight to the specific app’s page in the directory.
After users establish a connection to an app, activation occurs through multiple methods during conversations. One approach involves mentioning the app by name using an @ symbol. Alternatively, users select the app from the tools menu. OpenAI conducts experiments to automatically surface relevant apps within conversations. This surfacing relies on signals including the current conversational context, historical app usage patterns, and individual user preferences. Users receive clear mechanisms to offer feedback on these suggestions.
Construction of effective ChatGPT apps emphasizes alignment with genuine user intentions. Developers utilize the Apps SDK, currently available in beta, to craft experiences native to chat interfaces. These experiences import contextual elements and enable direct actions inside ChatGPT.
The most successful apps maintain a tight scope, operate intuitively within chat flows, and provide definite value. They either complete real-world workflows initiated in conversations or introduce entirely new AI-native interactions confined to ChatGPT. OpenAI advises developers to examine the app submission guidelines at an early stage to incorporate quality standards from the outset. Further documentation and illustrative examples reside in the developer resource hub.
Upon completion, developers submit apps for review directly through the OpenAI Developer Platform, where they monitor approval status. Each submission incorporates specific components: details on MCP connectivity, comprehensive testing guidelines, metadata for the directory listing, and settings for country availability. The initial cohort of approved apps undergoes gradual rollout beginning in the new year.
Apps satisfying OpenAI’s defined quality and safety standards qualify for publication in the app directory. Those demonstrating strong user resonance become candidates for prominent featuring within the directory or direct recommendations by ChatGPT.
During this initial phase, monetization proceeds through links from ChatGPT apps to developers’ own websites or native applications. These links facilitate completion of transactions involving physical goods. OpenAI examines further monetization pathways, such as those for digital goods, with plans to disclose additional details based on ongoing learnings from developer and user interactions.
All developers bear responsibility for complying with app submission guidelines concerning safety, privacy, and transparency. Apps must align with OpenAI’s usage policies, suit all audiences, and respect terms of service from third parties when accessing external content. Every submission includes a clear privacy policy. Developers limit data requests to only the information essential for app functionality.
Upon a user’s initial connection to a new app, OpenAI discloses the categories of data potentially shared with the third-party developer. It simultaneously presents the app’s privacy policy for user examination. Users retain full control, with the option to disconnect any app at any moment, resulting in immediate revocation of its data access.
OpenAI positions this launch as an early step in app integration. Plans involve rendering apps as natural extensions of conversations, aiding progression from concepts to actions. Efforts focus on cultivating a robust developer ecosystem within ChatGPT. Refinements to the overall experience will incorporate feedback from developers and users. The company intends to expand the app ecosystem, simplify discovery processes, and broaden developer options for user outreach and revenue generation.
