OpenAI has introduced an in-app app store within ChatGPT, marking a major shift in how users and developers interact with the AI chatbot. The move allows developers to build and deploy AI-powered apps directly inside ChatGPT, transforming it from a conversational assistant into a full-fledged AI app marketplace.
With the launch of the ChatGPT SDK, OpenAI is enabling developers to extend the chatbot’s functionality by creating custom apps that run natively within the ChatGPT interface. This means users are no longer limited to ChatGPT’s built-in capabilities—if a specific AI-powered feature is missing, they can simply browse the ChatGPT app store to find third-party apps that meet their needs.
According to an OpenAI blog post, the apps SDK is currently in a testing phase. Developers building apps for ChatGPT must submit them through OpenAI’s Developer Platform for review and approval before they are made available to users. OpenAI stated that approved apps are expected to begin appearing inside ChatGPT in 2026, significantly expanding the chatbot’s feature set and use cases.
Explaining the vision behind the app ecosystem, OpenAI noted that developers can build apps that perform actions on users’ behalf, integrate proprietary data sources, conduct deep research across multiple platforms with citations, and sync content to ensure real-time, up-to-date information within organizational knowledge bases.
By opening ChatGPT to an external developer ecosystem, OpenAI is positioning the platform as more than just a generative AI chatbot. The company is also integrating popular third-party services directly into the chat experience, including platforms such as Spotify, Canva, and Booking.com.
This strategy signals OpenAI’s broader ambition to evolve ChatGPT into an “everything app”—a single interface where users can communicate, create, research, design, plan travel, and take real-world actions using AI-powered tools built by a global developer community.
As competition intensifies in the generative AI space, the introduction of a ChatGPT app store and developer SDK could give OpenAI a significant edge by fostering innovation, expanding functionality, and embedding ChatGPT deeper into everyday digital workflows.
