OpenAI expands ChatGPT’s plugins with app-like interfaces and automations

OpenAI is extending ChatGPT's capabilities by introducing app-like plugins and automations, as announced at the company's Dev Day presentation. Developers now have the ability to create dedicated app-like experiences within ChatGPT using plugin extensions, which will appear in the ChatGPT sidebar. These plugins will provide interactive panels for users to work with their tools while conversing with ChatGPT, and support file viewers for various file formats.

OpenAI has streamlined the plugin development process by introducing a Plugin Creator tool and simplifying the plugin discovery process for end-users. Additionally, OpenAI has improved plugin ranking and recommendation within its directory and when surfacing them in conversations. Users can now individually approve a plugin's access needs.

ChatGPT Sites, which allows users to build lightweight websites with ChatGPT, will also host these plugins, enabling colleagues to share apps with connected data and permissions. OpenAI is also implementing the proposed MCP Events specification, which will allow plugins to automate tasks based on events occurring in connected apps. Automation management is also becoming more straightforward with OpenAI's latest updates.