OpenAI, an entity known for its unconventional approaches, took a page from the standard tech industry playbook last November by announcing the launch of an app store for ChatGPT during its developer conference. This strategic move is part of a broader initiative to maintain OpenAI’s edge in the competitive AI landscape. The GPT Store, as it’s called, has now become a reality and is accessible to ChatGPT Plus subscribers, as well as users of business plans like ChatGPT Team and Enterprise. However, free ChatGPT users are currently excluded from accessing these “apps.”
Referred to as GPTs, these apps are already gaining traction, with over 3 million users having created custom versions of ChatGPT since the feature’s introduction in November. Now, with the GPT Store, essentially anyone can create and publish a GPT on the web, significantly expanding the potential user base. OpenAI envisions this platform, similar to Apple’s App Store or YouTube, as a space to add new and compelling features to the familiar ChatGPT interface.
Despite the term “GPT” moving beyond “chat,” OpenAI’s app model revolves around enhancing ChatGPT’s text interface as the go-to place for various tasks. Users can interact with GPT apps, each with its unique logo, within the same conversational interface as ChatGPT. For instance, an app like Consensus, a search engine for research papers, can provide information through a chat-based interaction. This model aims to keep users engaged within the ChatGPT interface while accessing a variety of services.
While OpenAI has plans for the GPT Store to include a search function, app discovery, and leaderboards for popular GPTs, the details regarding compensation for app makers are still in development. Developers, both big and small, are venturing into this space with optimism, relying on the existing hype around ChatGPT to drive interest. As OpenAI continues to refine the monetization aspect, it remains to be seen how this platform will shape up and whether it will successfully incentivize developers to contribute to the growing ecosystem of GPT apps.
