OpenAI said on Tuesday it will let developers build app-like experiences inside ChatGPT through new plugin extensions.
The new extensions give apps a dedicated place in the ChatGPT sidebar and let developers add interactive panels so users can work with connected tools while chatting.
OpenAI already supports plugins that connect ChatGPT to services including Slack, SharePoint, Airtable and Google Drive. The new extensions expand that model with a more embedded in-app experience.
The plugin experience can also include file viewers that support the file formats used by a developer’s product, OpenAI said during its Dev Day presentation.
OpenAI also said it is simplifying plugin development and discovery. Developers are getting a new Plugin Creator tool and a redesigned submission flow for the plugin directory that offers clearer feedback.
The company said it has also changed how plugins are ranked and recommended in its directory and when they are surfaced during conversations.
Users who choose a plugin will be able to approve its access needs individually, according to OpenAI.
OpenAI said ChatGPT Sites, the lightweight websites users can build with ChatGPT, will also be able to host the plugins. That would allow users to share apps with colleagues, who could then use them with their own connected data and permissions.
The company also said it is adding support for the proposed MCP Events specification, which would let plugins start automations based on events in a connected app.
OpenAI said it is also making automations easier to add and manage.
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