OpenAI announced a series of updates that integrate external applications directly into its ChatGPT platform, aiming to alter how software is discovered and used. The changes were unveiled during the company's developer conference on Tuesday and are designed to let users launch third‑party tools without leaving the conversational interface.

The core of the update is a new plugin framework that expands ChatGPT’s ability to suggest, connect, and run applications within ongoing conversations. When the system identifies a task that aligns with a specific app, it can propose the tool, allow the user to link it, and then operate the app inside the chat window. This eliminates the need to switch between separate mobile or web applications for many common workflows.

Developers can now create AI‑native versions of their services that function as interactive panels inside ChatGPT. These panels let users perform tasks such as editing designs in Figma or managing project timelines from within the chat, while the underlying functionality remains hosted by the original service provider.

To support this ecosystem, OpenAI introduced a “Sign in with ChatGPT” option that lets users carry their allocated AI compute credits across connected apps. The feature initially partners with 16 services, including Notion, Vercel, and Cognition’s Devin, with plans to broaden the list. Users can share lightweight web pages generated by ChatGPT that embed these tools, enabling collaborators to access them with their own permissions.

OpenAI also revised its plugin review process, giving developers visibility into submission status, the ability to request human review, and the option to iterate on tools without restarting the entire approval cycle. An enterprise marketplace will launch with more than 30 partners, such as Adobe, Salesforce, and CrowdStrike, offering services that eligible customers can access using portions of their OpenAI commitment.

Separately, the company demonstrated its autonomous AI agents, called Dots, which can execute tasks on behalf of users by navigating connected applications and performing proactive research. Each Dot operates in its own cloud environment and can interact with over 4,000 integrated apps, potentially reducing reliance on traditional app store distribution channels.

The announcements focus on building discovery, distribution, and identity layers within ChatGPT rather than introducing new billing or revenue‑sharing mechanisms. OpenAI has not detailed plans for a comprehensive economic model comparable to existing app store structures.