OpenAI adds app-like plugin extensions and automations to ChatGPT

In short: OpenAI is upgrading ChatGPT plugins so they can feel more like small apps inside ChatGPT, and it is adding new ways to automate tasks.

What happened

OpenAI said it is expanding ChatGPT’s plugins with new “plugin extensions.” Plugins are add-ons that connect ChatGPT to other tools you may already use, like Slack, Google Drive, or Airtable.

With the update, a plugin can get a dedicated place in the ChatGPT sidebar, like a permanent shortcut. Developers can also build interactive panels, so you can use parts of a tool while you are still chatting. OpenAI also said plugins can include file viewers, meaning you can open and work with certain files inside ChatGPT, depending on what the plugin supports.

OpenAI is also trying to make plugins easier to find and set up. It said it is improving how plugins are ranked and recommended in its directory. It is also adding a “Plugin Creator” tool for developers, plus a redesigned submission process with clearer feedback.

The company added that ChatGPT Sites, simple websites people can make with ChatGPT, can host these plugins too. That could make it easier to share a tool with coworkers, while each person keeps their own access and permissions.

Finally, OpenAI said it is adding support for a proposed standard called MCP Events specification. In simple terms, this is like setting up triggers (like, “when a new file is added, do X”) so a plugin can start an automation based on something that happens in a connected app.

Why it matters

For regular users, this could mean less switching between apps and fewer copy and paste steps. If it works well, ChatGPT could act more like a single workspace where you talk, view files, and run routine tasks in one place.

Source: TechCrunch AI