OpenAI has taken a game-changing step: ChatGPT integrates third-party applications into the conversation itselfFrom now on, common tasks like designing in Canva, planning a trip with Expedia, or requesting a playlist on Spotify can be managed without leaving the chat.
The company wants the assistant to go from being a generator of answers to an agent that acts for youIn this first phase, the feature reaches users of Free, Go, Plus and Pro plans outside the European Unionwhile the new App SDK for developers is offered in preview. Each integration requests permission and explains what data is shared before connecting.
How apps work within ChatGPT
The approach is straightforward: describe what you need in natural language and the system choose the appropriate app, invoke it, and execute the task on your behalf. The result appears as interactive cards within the chat or as an expanded view that fills the entire screen.
For example, you can ask: “Prepare a presentation in Canva about solar self-consumption for SMEs and then, Search for cheap flights from Madrid to Munich for the first week of December.” ChatGPT orchestrates the steps: generates the draft in Canva and then queries Kayak or Expedia with the specified parameters.
These integrations are context-sensitive and can be automatically suggested, so if you mention a trip, The assistant suggests Expedia or Booking.com. Everything is based on the Protocol Context Model (PCM), an architecture that allows apps display interactive interfaces and execute actions directly into the conversation.
OpenAI adds that the option for integrated payments will be activated soon through Instant Checkout, for one-time purchases without leaving the chat. And, of course, each connection requires explicit authorization and granular access control by the user.
- Designer of a poster in Canva without opening new tabs.
- Planning of itineraries and reservations with Expedia or Booking.com.
- Music and podcasts with Spotify playlists generated instantly.
Everything happens in a unified flow, avoiding jumps between websites or apps and keeping the conversation at the center of the experience.
What services are already working and what's coming next?
The first wave includes Spotify, Canva, Booking.com, Expedia, Figma, Coursera and Zillow, with priority deployment in markets where apps operate in English. OpenAI is working with more partners to add Uber, Instacart, DoorDash, AllTrails, Peloton and TripAdvisor, among others.
If you connect your credentials, you will be able to use the functions of each account within the chat. For example, those with Spotify Premium will have access to all of its options, and on Booking.com or Expedia, it will be possible. Manage reservations without leaving ChatGPT.
Developer Tools: SDK, Submission, and Monetization
Along with the launch, OpenAI publishes the App SDK in preview for developers to adapt their services to the new system. Each app will be able to render its own interface in the chat and accept complex actions initiated in natural language.
The company will enable a process throughout the year to submit applications for review and a directory where you can discover, test, and evaluate integrations. OpenAI studies “multiple monetization avenues"for the ecosystem, although it has not yet detailed the model.
In terms of security, all apps must declare data use, comply with public policies and pass controls before they are available. In addition to the SDK, the company is working on tools for agents capable of planning and executing tasks connecting to external systems.
Implications and competition
The move is reminiscent of the transformation that the App Store brought to mobile phones: ChatGPT positions itself as a platform where the software comes to the conversation, not the other way around. This reinforces OpenAI's control of the interface and opens up discussions about discoverability and app economy.
Microsoft is pushing in the same direction by integrating Microsoft 365 with Copilot, and Google does the same with Gemini in its ecosystem. The difference here is the center of gravity: everything happens in the chat, with the assistant as “conductor”.
There are also downsides. Centralization can put pressure on startups that were building "ChatGPT + X", as they now compete with native integrations. And in privacy, the key will be to maintain clear consent, parental controls and responsible use of the data shared with each app to preserve user trust.
With this update, ChatGPT goes from answering to solve and execute. The integrated apps, the SDK in progress and the initial partners all point to the same idea: a conversational environment that concentrates work, leisure and learning tasks, with the promise of less friction and more action in a single window.
