OpenAI opened the door today for developers to submit their apps to ChatGPT for review and publication. What does that mean for you if you’re a creator, entrepreneur, or just curious? Conversations stop being only text: they can bring new context and enable real actions, like ordering groceries, turning an outline into slides, or searching for an apartment from the chat itself.
What changes for developers
Since the DevDay announcement, apps in ChatGPT move from experiment to an open platform. Starting today you can follow the submission guides and send your app for review. OpenAI published practical resources: best practices, open source examples, an open source UI library for native chat interfaces, and a quick step‑by‑step guide.
That means it’s no longer just an idea: there are tools and a clear path to bring your product into ChatGPT and reach users who already talk with the AI.
How apps work inside ChatGPT
Apps can integrate into conversations in several ways: they trigger if you mention them by name with @, if you pick them from the tools menu, or via deep links that go to the app’s page in the directory. There’s also a new directory inside ChatGPT, accessible from the tools menu or at chatgpt.com/apps.
OpenAI is experimenting with ways to suggest relevant apps based on the conversation context, usage patterns, and your preferences. And there will always be clear ways for users to leave feedback.
Resources and steps to publish your app
- Use the
Apps SDKin beta to build native chat experiences that bring context and actions into the dialogue. - Review the early submission guides: they help you avoid rejections for quality or safety reasons.
- Upload the app and track approval status on the OpenAI Developer Platform. The submission asks for details like MCP connectivity, testing guidelines, directory metadata, and country availability.
OpenAI will start rolling out the first batch of approved apps gradually early next year. Apps that meet quality and safety standards may appear in the directory, and the most popular ones could get more visibility or recommendations within ChatGPT.
Monetization and initial limits
In this early phase you can link from your ChatGPT app to your website or native app to complete transactions for physical goods. Over time, OpenAI will explore additional monetization options — for example, for digital goods — and will share updates as developers and users interact with the platform.
Privacy and security: what you should know
All apps must follow the submission guides on security, privacy, and transparency. They must comply with OpenAI’s usage policies, be appropriate for general audiences, and respect third‑party terms when accessing their content.
When a user connects an app, ChatGPT will show what type of data may be shared with third parties and provide access to the app’s privacy policy for review. You always control the connection: you can disconnect the app at any time and it will immediately lose access.
Practical tips for designing apps people will like
- Design around a real user intent. What specific task does the app solve within the conversation?
- Keep the scope tight and the chat experience intuitive. The best apps complete real‑world flows that start with a conversation or create native experiences only possible inside ChatGPT.
- Test with real examples: weekly grocery orders, turning a draft into a slide deck, or searching and filtering apartments using conversational criteria.
- Follow the quality guides and request only the permissions you really need.
A growing ecosystem
This is the start of a platform where apps should feel like natural extensions of dialogue. For developers it’s a real opportunity to reach users inside a widely used conversational interface. For users it means conversations that are more useful — not just answering questions, but enabling action.
As OpenAI and the community learn, the experience will evolve: easier app discovery, better recommendation methods, and more options for developers to monetize their work.
Original source
https://openai.com/index/developers-can-now-submit-apps-to-chatgpt