ChatGPT is great for planning, but you often have to use multiple apps to get the job done. There are some cool ChatGPT tricks, but OpenAI just announced a new feature that will change the way you use the chatbot.
Apps are now available in ChatGPT
You can launch and use your favorite tools without leaving the chat
OpenAI's announcement brings a new generation of apps you can chat with, with tools that allow developers to build them. Instead of asking you to search for specific music on Spotify or search for real estate on Zillow, ChatGPT can now bring these apps directly into the conversation.
At the time of writing, eight major apps are supported, including Booking.com, Canva, Coursera, Figma, Expedia, Spotify, and Zillow. More partners are expected to be added soon, including Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, and Target. Using these apps isn't difficult either. When you ask ChatGPT to perform a task that an app has available, it will suggest that you use that task. If you click the app button, you'll be asked 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, just start the prompt by mentioning the app's name.
With this level of app 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 features of ChatGPT that make it 10x more useful, but this single feature stands out above all others.
This functionality is powered by OpenAI's new Apps SDK. The SDK is an open standard built on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), using which AI applications like ChatGPT can connect to data sources, tools, and workflows to access information and perform tasks.
Another benefit of this new feature is software discovery. Instead of having to remember which app does what, ChatGPT will now suggest the right app for the task. It's a personal assistant that automatically picks the best tool for the job, saving you the trouble of comparing apps to find the best one.
Why does this change things?
ChatGPT is not just talking anymore, it is actually doing the task for you
First, this will be a huge productivity boost. The typical ChatGPT workflow has a traditional sequence: ChatGPT suggests something, you research to make sure it's correct, then switch apps, and finally, you perform the task. Now, everything happens within the same chat. You can ask ChatGPT to perform multiple complex tasks and complete them without switching apps or browser tabs.
OpenAI has essentially created a new app ecosystem. The SDK gives developers direct access to ChatGPT's entire user base—a distribution that individual developers or early-stage startups can only dream of. Additionally, while app discovery is a challenge in traditional app stores, ChatGPT automatically loads your app when it's most relevant. This puts apps that do specific tasks well in front of users who are more likely to use them.
If ChatGPT's app integration is successful, we could be witnessing the early stages of a major platform shift. We could move from an app-centric workflow to a conversation-centric one, where we can just tell the AI what to do and it will figure out the rest. Needless to say, this comes with some concerns.
Some apps will do it better than others, which means app discovery will quickly become problematic. If two apps do the same task, we're asking AI to choose one over the other. This means developers now have to worry about a whole new set of issues to ensure their app is chosen by AI and not actual humans. ChatGPT can make the tough decisions for you, but asking it to choose a specific tool for a job has the potential to change app design in the future.
Of course, there are also privacy and security concerns around connecting multiple services through an AI interface. This means exposing more of your personal data and app interactions to the chatbot, which means the company behind the tool has the ability to collect a lot more data on user behavior and usage habits.
ChatGPT has just been upgraded
From playlists to presentations, it's becoming your go-to companion.
Not everyone wants to manage their entire digital life through a single chat window. But the direction is clear. We're moving towards a world where AI doesn't just answer your questions, it performs tasks for you, using the same tools you already have. App integration points to a future where switching between apps may become obsolete.
Currently, this feature is available to all ChatGPT users, except those in the EU due to regulatory restrictions. But with more apps and wider coverage coming, it's time to get ready to change how you use ChatGPT and how it works.