OpenAI is upgrading ChatGPT from a conversational engine to a one-stop intelligent service platform. Recently, the company officially launched the "App Directory" (Application Directory) in ChatGPT, allowing users to browse and access various third-party service tools directly within the chat interface. At the same time, the developer SDK has been fully opened, enabling external teams to build deeply integrated interactive experiences. This move is seen as a key step for OpenAI to fulfill CEO Sam Altman's commitment to building a mature AI platform.
This update has comprehensively integrated and renamed the existing "connector" (connection) system: all tools that connect to external services are now uniformly referred to as "apps." For example:
- The original Google Drive and Dropbox file search functions → "Apps with file search capabilities";
- Deep research tools → "Apps with deep research capabilities";
- Cross-platform data synchronization services → "Apps with synchronization capabilities."
More notably, interactive consumer service apps are rapidly expanding:
- Spotify in ChatGPT has expanded to the UK, Switzerland, and the entire EU, allowing users to directly voice-ask for songs and create playlists;
- The Apple Music app is now fully available, supporting all users to discover music and generate playlists. Apple Music subscribers can also manage their personal libraries;
- The DoorDash app turns ideas into actions within conversations — when a user mentions "wanting to make spaghetti," the AI can automatically generate a list of ingredients and jump to order directly, achieving a "from idea to delivery" loop.
It is worth noting that these apps can work in conjunction with ChatGPT's Memory (memory) feature. If users enable this feature, the apps can use historical preferences (such as dietary restrictions and favorite playlists) to provide personalized services. However, OpenAI has clearly stated that if users have enabled the "improve the model for everyone" option, their usage data may be used for model training, covering all levels from free to Pro versions.
Despite the rapid expansion of the ecosystem, OpenAI remains cautious about its business model. The company only mentioned that it is "exploring various monetization methods including digital goods" and will continue to adjust based on feedback from developers and users. Industry analysts believe that this move aims to first cultivate the ecosystem before designing a revenue-sharing mechanism — in the future, it may adopt transaction fees, premium function subscriptions, or in-app purchases.
