OpenAI’s ChatGPT App Store Took Aim at Apple, But Results Lag So Far
Six months in, ChatGPT’s third-party apps offer limited functionality and have been frustrating for developers.
The ChatGPT app push has the potential to escalate a growing rivalry with Apple, steering consumers toward a new ecosystem for apps and services outside the App Store.
Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg
Last year, OpenAI unveiled an ambitious plan to let companies like Spotify Technology SA and Booking Holdings Inc. launch mini apps within ChatGPT, allowing users to access their services without leaving the chatbot. The move, reminiscent of Apple Inc.’s App Store debut, looked to be a key step toward OpenAI turning ChatGPT into an all-in-one platform.
Six months later, the initiative is off to a sluggish start, according to interviews with app makers. While there are now more than 300 app integrations available, they’re hidden away and the functionality has been limited by the partner companies, which are hesitant to hand off customer relationships and payments to OpenAI. Developers have also complained about a tedious app-approval process, a buggy coding system and a lack of usage data.