OpenAI has opened app submissions for developers who want to integrate their applications directly into ChatGPT, marking an important milestone in the expansion of its in-chat app ecosystem. Developers can now submit their apps for review through the OpenAI Developer Platform and monitor their approval status, with OpenAI indicating that the first set of approved apps will be introduced gradually over the coming year.
“Once ready, developers can submit apps for review and track approval status in the OpenAI Developer Platform,” the company said in the announcement. This step formalises what OpenAI has been building toward since DevDay in October, when it introduced the Apps SDK, a toolkit that enables users to interact with third-party apps without leaving the ChatGPT interface.
The Apps SDK is built on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard designed to enable secure, controlled connections between AI models and external tools or services. By using MCP, OpenAI aims to ensure that apps can exchange information with ChatGPT in a way that is both flexible for developers and safe for users. The protocol also makes it easier for developers to connect their existing services while maintaining consistent security and access controls.
OpenAI emphasised that safety, privacy and transparency are central to the new app review process. Every ChatGPT app will undergo structured checks before approval, with clear expectations set for how user data is handled. “Developers must include clear privacy policies with every app submission, and we require developers to only request the information needed to make their apps work,” the company said. This requirement is intended to limit unnecessary data access and give users greater confidence when enabling third-party apps.
User control is another core pillar of the system. “And users are always in control: disconnect an app at any time, and it immediately loses access.” This approach mirrors broader industry trends around consent-based access and real-time permission management, particularly as AI tools become more deeply embedded in everyday workflows.
By opening submissions, OpenAI is signalling its ambition to turn ChatGPT into a platform rather than just a standalone product. Over time, integrated apps could support use cases ranging from productivity and data analysis to commerce, customer support and specialised industry tools. For developers, the move creates a new distribution channel inside one of the world’s most widely used AI interfaces, while for users it promises a more seamless, task-oriented experience within ChatGPT itself.
