How to run applications inside ChatGPT

OpenAI has just upgraded ChatGPT , making it much more useful. Now you can use apps directly within ChatGPT, such as Spotify , Canva , and Zillow, without switching tabs or leaving the conversation. This is a bold move, turning AI into the control center for your favorite tools. However, it's still early days, and the rollout isn't entirely smooth yet.

The application system in ChatGPT's new chat feature.

OpenAI's announcement ushers in a new generation of apps you can chat with, along with developer tools to build them. Instead of telling you to find specific music on Spotify or real estate on Zillow, ChatGPT can now directly integrate these apps into your conversations.

At the time of writing, eight major apps are supported, including Booking.com, Canva, Coursera, Figma, Expedia, Spotify, and Zillow. More partners such as Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, and Target are expected to join in the near future. Using these apps is also easy. When you ask ChatGPT to perform a task that it supports, it will suggest that app. If you tap the app button, you will be prompted to log in and connect the app to ChatGPT, and that's it. The app will start appearing in your ChatGPT conversations. If you want to use a specific app, start the prompt by mentioning its name.

The latest OpenAI update allows you to open and use third-party applications directly within ChatGPT. Instead of switching between tabs, you can activate miniature versions of the application directly with simple commands.

For example, you could say 'Spotify, create a jazz playlist for work,' and the Spotify window would appear in the chat. Or 'Canva, design a poster for my podcast,' and Canva would launch right in the chat so you could edit the design.

This system runs on OpenAI's new app SDK, allowing developers to embed their applications into the chat window. Currently, you can try Canva, Spotify, Booking.com, Coursera, Expedia, Figma, and Zillow, and more will be available soon.

This could put an end to the chaotic app switching we've come to know. Until now, ChatGPT could only suggest actions you could take on specific apps. It might tell you what music you could play, what the price of real estate you can expect to be, which flight you should book, etc. With this information, you typically had to exit the ChatGPT app or browser tab and go to the corresponding app or website to complete the task.

With this level of application integration, everything now happens within a single ChatGPT chat window. It significantly narrows the gap between what the AI ​​suggests and the actual tasks. There are ChatGPT features that make it ten times more useful, but this one surpasses them all.

However, it's still early days and the app isn't working perfectly yet. Some Android users report that the app sometimes fails to load or respond correctly. ChatGPT might misinterpret commands or the conversation might freeze midway.

However, when running smoothly, it feels like a glimpse into the future. ChatGPT is starting to resemble a personal digital workspace more than a chatbot.

Access and use the application within ChatGPT.

If you're outside the EU, you can try these apps now with Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans, on both desktop and mobile devices. Business and Education users will have access to them after 2025.

Open ChatGPT, click on Explore GPTs , search for the app, and click on it to start chatting.

Enter your request and confirm access to the plugin. Then, wait for ChatGPT to generate the results for you.

Or simply name these apps in a logical prompt. For example: 'Canva, please create a modern YouTube thumbnail for my Pixel 10 vs. iPhone 17 review.' ChatGPT will prompt you to connect the app the first time you try. From then on, the two apps will automatically sync.

Wait for ChatGPT to open the application window so you can preview or edit the results.

Prompts work best when you're direct and specific. Saying 'Play music' won't launch Spotify. But 'Spotify, play jazz playlist' will launch the app.

If you're creating online content, you can combine this with a tutorial on how to use ChatGPT to create YouTube content. With Canva built-in, design tasks become much simpler.

Why does this update change how you use ChatGPT?

Until now, ChatGPT could only provide you with the information you requested. With this update, you can now use the applications within ChatGPT to complete tasks. Need to design a logo, book travel tickets, or find a house? You can do it all in one place, with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) .

It helps your tasks run seamlessly and combines the intelligent power of ChatGPT with the functionality of your favorite tools.

In summary, the ability to use applications directly within ChatGPT is a major step forward. While some aspects remain to be perfected, this demonstrates that artificial intelligence (AI) could soon become your primary gateway to the web.

ChatGPT is more than just answering questions; it's becoming a versatile hub for getting things done. To get the most out of ChatGPT, check out: 100 quality ChatGPT commands for every situation .

Things to note: Impact and risks to users

The most obvious advantage here is speed and convenience. Integrating applications with ChatGPT allows for sequential tasks, such as searching for a house on Zillow and then booking a trip through Expedia, all in a single process, saving many minutes of daily work.

However, every new AI feature comes with trade-offs. When you connect an app, it will request permission to use some of your data. Although OpenAI says they limit access, they still track your habits through queries—that's data. Therefore, you're still trading your security for convenience.

While its effectiveness and convenience are undeniable, it also changes the level of control you have over your data and app experience. Over-reliance on AI, in the context of increasingly pressing data privacy concerns, is a significant warning sign.

Furthermore, the more time you spend using ChatGPT, the less you use other regular apps. Although apps like Canva and Spotify might not notice this.

If this becomes an industry trend and every AI company becomes a closed ecosystem, it will harm smaller developers who depend on a large number of direct users accessing their applications.

Performance is also a concern. Some users have reported lag, app crashes, or unresponsiveness, particularly on Android phones. These issues, along with the need for clearly worded prompts to activate the correct tools, can make the user experience less intuitive than it might seem.

In summary, the usability of the application within ChatGPT is a major step forward. It still has some imperfections, but it shows that AI could soon become the primary gateway for you to access the web.

ChatGPT is more than just answering questions; it's becoming a multi-purpose hub for getting things done. To get the most out of ChatGPT, check out TipsMake's ChatGPT tips .