Oct 6, 2025 - Technology

OpenAI reboots its ChatGPT app effort

Ina Fried

Two phone screens with ChatGPT and Spotify apps; left shows a chat making a Latin music playlist; right shows a chat asking for podcast recommendations with three science and innovation podcasts listed. — Source: Spotify

OpenAI on Monday announced a new approach to apps within ChatGPT. The company says it will make it easier for developers to reach users and earn revenue.

The big picture: OpenAI launched custom GPTs and its ChatGPT store at its first developer event in 2023.

An initial wave of interest faded as the store became a tool for companies to build internal apps, with no clear way for developers to make money.

Driving the news: Users can summon the new apps by asking for them by name in a chat. ChatGPT will also suggest apps when they could help complete a task.

The new ChatGPT apps are based on the open source Model Context Protocol.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the new app push at DevDay in San Francisco.
OpenAI demonstrated summoning Figma to directly handle a design task.
Other initial apps include Spotify, Canva, Zillow and Coursera. The first wave of these apps will be available today.

What's next: OpenAI released guidelines and tools today and plans to let more developers list apps later this year.

As for how companies can make money from their apps, Altman promised more details coming soon.

Add Axios on Google

OpenAI reboots its ChatGPT app effort

What to read next