According to Mashable, OpenAI has officially launched a beta for its ChatGPT Apps directory, allowing users to connect and use third-party services directly within the AI chat interface. The feature works by using an @ command to summon specific apps during a conversation, enabling actions like ordering groceries through Instacart, creating a playlist with Spotify, or booking travel via Expedia. In testing, some integrations, like Adobe Photoshop, reportedly worked even without a pre-existing account with the service. OpenAI also released an Apps SDK in beta for developers to build these “chat-native experiences,” hinting at future monetization possibilities. The initial lineup includes major apps like Spotify, DoorDash, TripAdvisor, and Zillow, accessible now at chatgpt.com/apps.
Why this is a big deal
Here’s the thing: this moves ChatGPT from being a mostly informational tool to an actionable one. It’s not just answering your questions anymore; it’s becoming the interface you use to do things. Need a recipe? It can find one and have Instacart deliver the ingredients. Planning a trip? It can suggest destinations and then let you book the hotel right there. That’s a fundamental shift. The convenience factor is huge, obviously. But it also starts to lock you into the ChatGPT ecosystem. Why open six different apps when your AI assistant can theoretically handle it all in one place?
The developer play
For developers, this is a massive new channel. OpenAI’s announcement about the Apps SDK is basically an open invitation. Build an experience that lives inside ChatGPT, and you get instant access to its massive user base. The big question, of course, is what the business model looks down the road. OpenAI says it’s looking at ways to help developers “monetize their work.” Will it be a revenue share? A listing fee? Too early to tell. But if this takes off, being discoverable in the ChatGPT app directory could become as critical as being in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. That’s the potential bet OpenAI is making.
A few caveats
Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This is a beta, and the initial app selection, while filled with big names, is a bit… repetitive. Do we really need both Spotify and Apple Music in the same way? DoorDash and Instacart? It feels like they secured partnerships with major players in a few key categories to prove the concept. The real test will be when smaller, more niche tools get in. And then there’s the user experience. Will hopping between different app contexts within a single chat feel seamless or clunky? Can you trust ChatGPT to accurately use the Zillow API to find you a home? There are a lot of UX and trust hurdles to clear before this becomes a daily habit for people.
Where this is headed
So, what’s the endgame? Basically, OpenAI is building a platform. Calling it a “directory” now is modest, but the mention of future monetization points squarely toward an app store model. They’re creating an entire economy inside ChatGPT. For users, it promises a unified, conversational interface for the digital world. For companies, it’s a new frontier for customer acquisition and engagement. But it also raises big questions about control, data, and what happens when our primary gateway to the internet is controlled by a single AI company. It’s a powerful vision, no doubt. Whether it becomes indispensable or just another feature we occasionally use, well, that’s the billion-dollar experiment starting now.
