ChatGPT has ceased to be just a chat with artificial intelligence and has become something much closer to a platform full of connected servicesOpenAI has officially activated an app directory within the chatbot itself, a kind of internal app store from which third-party tools can be discovered and used without leaving the conversation.
With this move, the company is getting closer to the concept of “app for everything” or super app which has already become popular in Asia and which other platforms like WhatsApp or X (formerly Twitter) have been pursuing for some time. The idea is simple: that the user can do almost everything from the same ChatGPT window, from find an apartment or book a restaurant even managing your music or documents in the cloud.
ChatGPT already has its own integrated app store
OpenAI has launched a App Directory within ChatGPT which groups together all available integrations with external services. What were previously known as connectors, those functions that provided access to data from platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox, are now encompassed under a simpler and more recognizable term: applications.
The company's stated goal is to build a robust platformwith all the components one would expect from a mature ecosystem. Among them, a store where you can easily find, try, and activate all kinds of tools. In this way, the conversation with the assistant becomes the starting point for practical day-to-day actions: ordering food, creating presentations, organizing a trip, or reviewing work documents.
OpenAI had already been experimenting with this approach since October, when it began testing ChatGPT integrations with services such as Spotify, Zillow, or CanvaSince then, the catalog has expanded considerably and now includes well-known companies in Europe, such as Apple Music, Booking.com, TheFork, Uber or Notion, Entre otras muchas.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has long insisted that the intention is for ChatGPT to be a useful tool for people Advance faster, be more productive, and learn better.The apps, integrated directly into the chat interface, fit into that vision of building a new generation of services. interactive and personalized with whom you can speak naturally.
Store structure: sections and its own search engine
The new application directory is organized into three main sectionsFeatured, Lifestyle, and Productivity. Each of these categories groups the apps that OpenAI considers most representative or interesting to show how its chatbot is spreading across all kinds of services.
In the section Featured The most relevant or recent proposals are showcased, those that serve as a showcase of the ecosystem's potential. Meanwhile, in Lifestyle Apps related to leisure, personal organization, travel, or restaurants appear, while Productivity It brings together tools designed for working, studying, or managing projects and teams.
In addition to these categories, the store incorporates its own search engineThis allows users to quickly locate a specific application or explore new options using keywords. This facilitates navigation through a catalog that, in markets like Spain, is already quite extensive and continues to grow.
The interface is reminiscent, in some ways, of other app stores like the App Store or Google Play: each service has its own profile page with description, images and a button to connect with ChatGPT. Although the information is quite basic for now, it is possible that it will be enriched with more details, ratings, or other elements as the ecosystem matures.
Connectors that are now called applications
One of the most striking changes is purely terminological. The integrations that were previously known as “connectors” They have been officially renamed as "Applications"The idea is to unify under one umbrella both the tools with a more interactive interface and the services that are limited to helping. search and reference information inside the chat.
OpenAI has detailed in its documentation that the old chat connectors will now be called “apps with file search”Those focused on analysis become “apps with in-depth research”, and those that were kept synchronized with external sources are labeled as “apps with synchronization”The purpose is to make it easier for the user to understand what they can expect from each integration.
The company has also clarified that these name changes do not imply neither loss of functions nor withdrawal of servicesEverything that was available is still there, for both users and developers, but framed within a clearer structure. Furthermore, many of these apps can access the feature of Conference proceedings from ChatGPT if it is enabled, allowing them to take advantage of the context accumulated over time.
In plans like Free, Plus, Go, or Pro, OpenAI indicates that some data could be used for improve their models if the corresponding option is enabled, something the company emphasizes the user can disable from the privacy settings.
App catalog available in Spain and Europe
The app store rollout is gradual, and some integrations are currently only available in certain markets, but in Europe now has access to a varied catalogIn Spain, the new ChatGPT apps section shows around fifty services in the initial phase, some of them very well known.
In the block of Productivity Names like Figma, GitHub, GitLab Issues, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Notion, Slack, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Zoom, Vercel, Netlify, Monday.com, Zoho, Replit, Stripe, PitchBook, Hex, and Khan Academy appear, among others. These apps allow, for example, check emails, review documents, manage tasks, or analyze data directly from the chat.
In the category of Lifestyle Services more geared towards personal daily life and leisure are grouped together: Apple Music, Spotify, Booking.com, Expedia, AllTrails, OpenTable, TheFork, Tripadvisor, Uber, Uber Eats, Instacart, DoorDash, Peloton, Target, and Zillow, to name a few. Thanks to these integrations, the user can search for accommodation, estimate a journey, order groceries, or create playlists without leaving the conversation with ChatGPT.
Some of these features depend on the type of account the user has with each service. In the case of Spotify, for example, premium subscribers can ask ChatGPT to find or create playlists based on their mood, favorite genre, or time of day, something that the assistant manages from the chat itself by connecting to the user's account.
How to access and use the ChatGPT app store
The store is integrated into the ChatGPT interface itself, both in the web version and in the apps. mobile appsTo enter it, simply go to the left sidebar and click on “Applications”, right below the images section. Doing so opens the main screen with the different categories and featured apps.
Once inside the directory, the user can filter by sections (Featured, Lifestyle, Productivity) or use the search bar to find something more specific. When you select an app, its information page appears with a brief description, screenshots, and the Connect button, which starts the authorization process with the external service account.
Activation is relatively simple: by clicking on Connect, ChatGPT redirects you to the provider's official page to review the terms of service and grant permitsIt is advisable to carefully read the privacy policies and the type of access granted, as in many cases it involves sensitive data, such as emails, files stored in the cloud, or activity histories.
Once access is granted, the app is linked to ChatGPT and can be used in any conversation. The user retains the ability to modify the app at all times. revoke the connection You can do this from the service settings or from the app options in ChatGPT, if you decide to stop using that integration.
Invoking and managing apps within a conversation
After connecting an app, its use is integrated into the normal flow of the conversation with the assistant. OpenAI has defined two main mechanisms to activate them, so that the experience is as natural as possible and adapts to both advanced users and those who prefer more visual menus.
On one hand, you can write the symbol @ followed by the application name to mention it directly in the prompt. This way, ChatGPT knows to use that tool to execute the request. For example, you could ask for something like organizing a Google Drive document, summarizing Gmail emails, or search for a Booking.com reservation using the app context.
On the other hand, it is possible to tap on the icon of + which appears next to the text box; select the "More" option to display the list of connected apps. From there, choose the one you want to use at that moment, which is especially convenient if you have several active integrations and don't remember the exact name of each one.
Once invoked, the application functions as a extension of the conversation itselfChatGPT combines user requests with app capabilities and returns a context-aware response. This allows, for example, refining a Zillow home search, adjusting a hiking route on AllTrails, or modifying a travel plan based on new preferences.
Practical examples: from music to restaurant reservations
The current catalog already allows for a number of quite tangible use cases, designed for both work and leisure. One of the clearest examples is the integration with music streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify. From the chat itself, you can request playlists based on a genre, a decade, or even an activity (for example, music to concentrate or to work out), and ChatGPT takes care of generating or locating the appropriate playlist within the connected app.
Another possibility very close to everyday life is the combination of apps from restaurants and leisure like OpenTable or TheFork. The user can explain to ChatGPT what kind of dinner they want to organize, in which city, and with what approximate budget, and the assistant uses these integrations to suggest options, check ratings, and even Start the booking process in specific restaurants.
In the food delivery and shopping sector, services like DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Instacart allow for direct transformation recipe ideas or weekly menus in a list of ingredients and, subsequently, in a shopping cart ready to order. ChatGPT acts as an intermediary here, connecting what the user has in mind with the final order on the chosen platform.
Also relevant are the uses related to the travel and tourismWith apps like Booking.com, Expedia, and Tripadvisor, the assistant can help you find accommodations, compare hotels, read reviews, and organize trips, all without leaving the chat. For those planning getaways or vacations from Spain and other European countries, this integration allows you to adjust your travel plans in a dynamic and conversational way.
An opportunity for developers: Apps SDK and review
The app store not only has an impact on the end user, it also opens up a significant space for the developer ecosystemOpenAI has launched its Apps SDK, still in beta, which allows the creation of specific experiences that work within ChatGPT by leveraging its conversational engine, the context of the chat and, in certain cases, even optional information from the user.
Creators who wish to participate must submit your applications through the developer portal Apps are submitted through OpenAI (platform.openai.com/apps-manage), where a review process begins before they can be listed in the directory. The company explained that an initial set of approved apps will begin appearing on ChatGPT throughout the next year, with the selection expanding gradually.
To facilitate the work, OpenAI has made examples available to the community of open-source apps, interface components adapted for chat, quick guides and best practices on user experience and security, and recalls the recent measures of the App Store in the EU For developers. The idea is that small teams, startups, and large companies can launch solutions without having to build the entire conversational infrastructure from scratch.
OpenAI itself encourages these apps to explore advanced and original usesBeyond simple, superficial integrations, the goal is for developers to leverage ChatGPT's ability to understand natural language and combine it with concrete actions, thereby creating truly differentiated products in verticals such as education, finance, health, productivity, and entertainment.
Monetization, privacy, and future business model
One of the big questions surrounding this app store is how OpenAI plans to do it. to make it economically sustainableCurrently, the available applications can be used at no additional cost within ChatGPT, and developers who want to generate revenue must link to their own websites or native apps, where they offer the usual payment models.
The company acknowledges, however, that it is exploring monetization formulas In the medium term, these could include digital goods or other revenue-sharing systems within the platform itself. Although the exact mechanisms have not yet been detailed, the comparison with the impact of mobile app stores suggests a future where there will be paid apps or apps with freemium models integrated directly into ChatGPT.
This approach is intertwined with OpenAI's overall strategy to make ChatGPT a profitable product, running parallel to other revenue streams such as paid subscriptions or enterprise agreements. The incorporation of usage metrics, recommendation systems and possible rankings of popular apps point in the direction of a ecosystem where visibility and the economy of developers play an important role.
In the area of privacy, the company insists that all apps must clearly specify their privacy practices. how they collect, store and process user dataSince many integrations involve access to documents, emails, or personal histories, transparency and user control become key to maintaining trust in the system, especially in regions like the European Union, where regulation is stringent.
Custom GPTs and apps: the two pillars of the new ChatGPT
The app store joins another of the service's major recent updates: Custom GPTsThese are small variations of ChatGPT, trained or configured for specific tasks, which users themselves can create without any programming knowledge. Both pieces fit together in the same direction: to turn the chatbot into a multifunction digital assistant, capable of adapting to very different contexts.
While custom GPTs focus on how AI responds and behaves, apps focus on which external services does it connect to? and what actions they can take. Together, they shape a much more modular ChatGPT, where each person can combine different pieces according to their needs for work, study, leisure or daily management.
The result is an environment in which conversation ceases to be merely a way of obtaining information and becomes the main interface of multiple applicationsFrom a single window, you can launch queries, execute tasks, review results, and make decisions without jumping from one platform to another, which is especially convenient for users who work with several digital tools at the same time.
All this development places ChatGPT in a new phase, closer to a platform than a simple chatbot. The creation of an app store, the opening of the SDK, and the reorganization of the old connectors into applications demonstrate OpenAI's intention to organize and scale your ecosystemOffering European users—and those in Spain in particular—an ever-expanding catalog of connected services, this marketplace could become a key component of many people's digital lives if developers respond with useful solutions and issues like privacy and monetization are addressed effectively. A simple conversation with AI could open the door to almost any task.