OpenAI opens ChatGPT to third-party apps after review process

OpenAI has opened submissions for third-party apps inside ChatGPT, allowing developers to publish their own tools directly to the platform following a review process. The move formalizes the path from private experiments to public distribution and expands ChatGPT beyond first-party features into a broader application ecosystem.

Developers can now submit apps built with OpenAI models for listing, where they become discoverable by ChatGPT users without external installs. Submissions go through automated and manual checks covering policy compliance, safety behavior, and technical reliability. Once approved, apps can be accessed directly inside ChatGPT, positioning them alongside existing built-in tools and workflows. The program targets developers building productivity tools, research utilities, creative assistants, and domain-specific agents that benefit from conversational access rather than standalone interfaces.

The rollout applies globally and is available through OpenAI’s developer platform, with eligibility tied to compliance with usage policies and quality guidelines. This marks a shift from limited GPT sharing toward a structured marketplace model, giving developers a native distribution channel and users a curated way to extend ChatGPT’s capabilities. Monetization details are not fully outlined yet, but the submission system lays the groundwork for future commercial models and ranking mechanisms.

OpenAI is framing this as a step toward making ChatGPT a central surface for AI applications, where users run multiple task-specific agents in one environment. For the company, it increases platform stickiness and model usage. For developers, it reduces friction around onboarding, discovery, and user trust by embedding apps directly into a product with a large existing user base.

Source