OpenAI expands ChatGPT into an app and agent distribution surface
OpenAI has outlined a broader role for ChatGPT as a place to discover, launch and use third-party software, alongside its new autonomous agents, Dots. The company says ChatGPT now has 1.2 billion weekly users, while Dots will be able to connect to an ecosystem of more than 4,000 apps.
The announcements at DevDay combine app suggestions within conversations, interactive extensions, a sign-in mechanism and an enterprise marketplace. OpenAI has not announced a billing or revenue-sharing system comparable to the economic layer of conventional app stores.
ChatGPT becomes an application surface
When ChatGPT identifies that an app could help complete a task, it will suggest that app during the conversation. Users can then connect the service and begin using it inside ChatGPT, rather than moving first to a separate website or native desktop or mobile application.
The expanded plugin architecture supports extensions, enabling developers to create interactive panels in the chat interface. OpenAI demonstrated its meeting application showing upcoming calendar meetings, offering AI note-taking, and returning follow-up items after a meeting. It also described workflows with Figma and Adobe for project revisions or feature-specific work.
Those apps can be shared through lightweight websites created by ChatGPT. Colleagues can sign in with their own credentials and permissions, allowing the experience to be personalised to each user. The direction complements OpenAI DevDay announcements for ChatGPT and Codex by placing developer tools, applications and agent capabilities in a common ChatGPT interface.
Identity, review and enterprise distribution
OpenAI is also introducing Sign in with ChatGPT, intended to let people carry their ChatGPT identity and existing AI allowance into third-party applications. The initial group of 16 launch partners includes Cognition's Devin, Notion, Vercel, T3, OpenClaw and Dactyl, with OpenAI planning to add more partners.
For developers, the company said plugin submissions will provide review tracking, information on required fixes, an option to request human review, and the ability to update a plugin's tools without restarting a submission. The process resembles the review gate associated with mobile app platforms, but is focused on software running through ChatGPT.
The new OpenAI Marketplace begins with more than 30 partners, including Adobe, Figma, Sierra, Decagon, HubSpot, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Harvey, Legora, Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike and Baseten. Eligible customers can apply part of their OpenAI commitment to approved partner software.
Dots shift attention from apps to tasks
Each Dot has its own cloud computer and browser, and can use connected applications while navigating the web to execute tasks. OpenAI said Dots may offer help on a project or bug, or deal with a forgotten task, subject to user approval. Their background “proactive research” uses connected apps in read-only mode.
For businesses, the immediate implication is to evaluate ChatGPT as an additional software discovery and workflow surface, while retaining clear controls for account connections, permissions, subscriptions and agent actions. The commercial model remains incomplete because OpenAI has not set out separate subscription, billing or partner revenue-sharing arrangements.