Imagine asking your AI assistant to book a hotel, create a presentation, and make a playlist for your weekend trip—all in one conversation. This isn’t science fiction anymore. On October 6, 2025, OpenAI announced a groundbreaking update that transforms ChatGPT from a simple chatbot into a comprehensive platform where you can interact with dozens of popular apps through natural conversation (OpenAI, 2025).

This development represents the most significant evolution in AI interaction since ChatGPT’s initial launch. Instead of switching between multiple apps and websites, users can now access services from Booking.com, Spotify, Zillow, Canva, and others directly within their ChatGPT conversations.

The Birth of Conversational Apps

The new ChatGPT apps work differently from traditional mobile applications. Rather than tapping through menus and forms, you simply tell ChatGPT what you need in plain English. Want to find an apartment in Paris under $2,000 per month? Just say "Zillow, find me apartments in Paris under $2,000" and an interactive map appears with available options (Zeff, 2025).

As OpenAI CEO Sam Altman explained at DevDay 2025, "We want ChatGPT to be a great way for people to make progress, to be more productive, more inventive, to learn faster, to do whatever they’re trying to do in their lives better. [Apps inside of ChatGPT] will enable a new generation of apps that are interactive, adaptive, and personalized, that you can chat with" (Zeff, 2025).

How the Magic Happens Behind the Scenes

The technology powering this transformation is called the Apps SDK (Software Development Kit), built on something called the Model Context Protocol. Think of this as a universal translator that allows ChatGPT to communicate with external services while maintaining the conversational flow you’re used to.

Developers can now create applications that don’t just provide information—they can display interactive interfaces, process payments, and even play videos directly within ChatGPT. This means you might watch a Coursera lesson while asking ChatGPT to explain complex concepts, or browse Spotify playlists while discussing your music preferences.

Real-World Applications That Change Everything

The initial launch partners demonstrate the platform’s versatility. Here’s how these integrations work in practice:

Travel Planning Made Simple: Instead of juggling multiple travel websites, you can tell ChatGPT "I need a hotel in Tokyo for three nights next month with a gym" and Booking.com’s app will surface relevant options with photos, prices, and amenities—all without leaving your conversation.

Creative Work Streamlined: Canva’s integration allows you to transform ideas into visual content instantly. You might start with a rough outline for a presentation and ask "Canva, turn this into a slide deck with a professional blue theme." The app creates the presentation while you continue refining your content through conversation.

Home Shopping Revolutionized: Zillow’s Head of AI, Josh Weisberg, highlighted the human element: "The Zillow app in ChatGPT shows the power of AI to make real estate feel more human. Together with OpenAI, we’re bringing a first-of-its-kind experience to millions—a conversational guide that makes finding a home faster, easier, and more intuitive" (OpenAI, 2025).

The Expanding Ecosystem

While seven major companies launched with the platform, OpenAI has announced eleven additional partners joining later in 2025, including AllTrails, Peloton, OpenTable, Target, Uber, and others. This expansion suggests we’re seeing the early stages of a fundamental shift in how we interact with digital services.

The platform reaches over 800 million ChatGPT users, giving developers unprecedented access to engaged audiences at precisely the right moments. Unlike traditional app stores where users must actively search for solutions, ChatGPT apps appear contextually when they’re most relevant to the conversation.

Privacy and Safety in the New Era

With great convenience comes important questions about data privacy. OpenAI has implemented several safeguards: developers must collect only essential data, provide transparent privacy policies, and clearly explain what information they access. When you first connect an app, ChatGPT explicitly asks for permission and explains what data might be shared.

The company promises even more granular controls coming later in 2025, allowing users to specify exactly what types of information each app can access. This approach aims to balance personalization with privacy protection.

The Business Model Revolution

OpenAI isn’t just changing how we use apps—they’re reimagining how digital commerce works. The company plans to introduce monetization features including support for the Agentic Commerce Protocol, enabling instant purchases directly within conversations.

Imagine discussing dinner plans with ChatGPT and seamlessly ordering ingredients through Instacart or booking a restaurant through OpenTable without interrupting the conversation flow. This "conversational commerce" could fundamentally change online shopping.

What This Means for the Future

This development positions ChatGPT as more than an AI assistant—it’s becoming a new kind of operating system for digital life. Instead of managing dozens of separate apps, users can accomplish complex, multi-step tasks through natural conversation.

The implications extend beyond convenience. This approach could make technology more accessible to people who struggle with traditional interfaces, from elderly users to those with disabilities. When you can simply describe what you need instead of navigating complex menus, technology becomes more inclusive.

Challenges and Considerations

However, this consolidation raises important questions. How will ChatGPT choose between competing services like DoorDash and Uber Eats? OpenAI states they’ll prioritize user experience over revenue, but the temptation to favor paying partners could be significant.

There are also concerns about creating too much dependence on a single platform. While convenience is appealing, concentrating so much digital activity in one place could create new vulnerabilities and reduce competition in the long term.

Summary and Key Takeaways

ChatGPT’s transformation into an everything app platform represents a pivotal moment in AI development. By allowing natural language interaction with multiple services simultaneously, OpenAI is creating a new paradigm for digital interaction that prioritizes conversation over navigation.

The key benefits include:

• Streamlined workflows that eliminate app-switching
• More intuitive interfaces accessible to broader audiences
• Contextual service recommendations that appear when relevant
• Integrated commerce capabilities for seamless transactions

As this ecosystem expands, we’re likely seeing the early stages of how AI will reshape our relationship with technology. The question isn’t whether this approach will succeed, but how quickly other platforms will adapt to compete.

For everyday users, this means simpler, more efficient ways to accomplish digital tasks. For businesses, it represents both an opportunity to reach customers in new ways and a challenge to remain relevant in an increasingly AI-mediated world.

References

OpenAI. (2025, October 6). Introducing apps in ChatGPT and the new Apps SDK. OpenAI. https://openai.com/index/introducing-apps-in-chatgpt/

Zeff, M. (2025, October 6). OpenAI launches apps inside of ChatGPT. TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/06/openai-launches-apps-inside-of-chatgpt/