According to The Verge, OpenAI launched its ChatGPT App Directory on Wednesday evening, opening a dedicated space to browse available tools. The company simultaneously opened its SDK for developers to build new interactive experiences directly within the ChatGPT interface. This follows CEO Sam Altman’s statement last month about building “the obvious features for a robust platform.” In a related rebranding move, the existing “connectors” for services like Google Drive and Dropbox have been renamed as “apps,” categorized now as apps with file search, deep research, or sync. The company also notes that these apps may use information from a user’s Memory feature, and for most user tiers, data may be used for model training if the user has that setting enabled.
The platform play is on
Here’s the thing: this is OpenAI‘s clearest signal yet that ChatGPT is no longer just a product. It’s becoming a platform. And that changes everything. By launching an App Directory and an SDK, they’re inviting developers to build a whole ecosystem inside their walled garden. It’s a classic, powerful move. Think about it—why let users leave ChatGPT to use another tool when you can host that tool right there? It keeps engagement high and makes ChatGPT the central hub for, well, everything.
Winners and losers in the new landscape
So who wins? Early developers who can build a must-have “GPT” might strike gold if this takes off. But the bigger winner is obviously OpenAI. They get to curate an ecosystem, control the experience, and potentially take a cut of revenue down the line. Who loses? Standalone AI tool startups that were basically just a clever prompt wrapped in a UI. If a developer can rebuild a similar experience as a ChatGPT app, why would a user bother going to a separate website? It also puts pressure on other platform players, like Anthropic with Claude, to respond with their own marketplaces. The race to become the primary AI interface just got a lot more interesting.
The fine print matters
Now, let’s talk about that data note. The support page mentions apps can use Memory and that user data may train models. This is huge. It basically means that by using these third-party apps, you might be feeding OpenAI’s core models even more. Developers will need to be transparent about this, and users should probably glance at those settings. It raises questions about data ownership and privacy within apps. Is your data shared with the app developer, OpenAI, or both? The policy will need to be crystal clear for this to scale without backlash.
What’s next for the ecosystem?
Basically, the SDK is the real story. The App Directory launch is cool, but the ability for anyone to build is what could make this explode. Will we see useful utilities, fun games, or powerful business tools? Probably all of the above. The success hinges on whether OpenAI can attract top-tier developer talent away from building their own independent products. If they can, ChatGPT becomes an operating system. If they can’t, this is just a fancy plugin directory with a new name. My bet? They have the momentum to pull it off, but the next few months of developer reaction will be critical.
