# OpenAI lets developers build app-like plug-ins inside ChatGPT

> OpenAI is opening ChatGPT to third-party developers with plug-in extensions that live in the chatbot's sidebar and work mid-conversation. The new tools include a Plugin Creator, improved ranking, and support for the proposed MCP Events spec for automations.

- Type: AI news
- Page: https://completeaitraining.com/news/openai-lets-developers-build-app-like-plug-ins-inside/
- Published: 2026-09-30
- Updated: 2026-09-30
- Author: Jeroen Erne
- Jobs: Customer support, Hospitality and events, Marketing, Product development, Sales, Writers
- Reading time: 1 min

OpenAI is opening ChatGPT to third-party developers who want to build app-like experiences inside the chatbot. The company announced plug-in extensions at its DevDay presentation Tuesday, giving external tools a dedicated home in ChatGPT's sidebar and letting users interact with them mid-conversation.

OpenAI already supports plug-ins that connect ChatGPT to tools like Slack, SharePoint, Airtable, and Google Drive. The new extensions go further: developers can build interactive panels that let users work with their tools while chatting, including file viewers that support whatever formats the developer's product uses.

#### A faster path from build to discovery

Developers now have a Plugin Creator tool to build extensions and can submit them through a redesigned flow that offers clearer feedback. OpenAI said it has also improved how plug-ins are ranked and recommended in its directory and when they surface in conversations. Users can approve each plug-in's access needs individually before using it.

ChatGPT Sites - the lightweight websites users can build with ChatGPT - can host these plug-ins too. That means someone can share their apps with colleagues, who can then use them with their own connected data and permissions.

#### Automations get a new trigger system

OpenAI is adding support for the proposed MCP Events specification, which would let plug-ins start automations based on events in a connected app. The company said it is also making automations easier to add and manage.

For teams that rely on ChatGPT alongside their existing software stack, these changes point toward a more integrated workflow. Developers can explore the technical side through [OpenAI API Courses](https://completeaitraining.com/tag/openai/), while product and engineering leads may find value in the [AI for Software Developers Courses](https://completeaitraining.com/learningpath/ai-for-software-developers/) learning path.

#### Why this matters for customer support, sales, and marketing teams

Support agents who pull data from multiple systems during a chat can now do that without leaving ChatGPT. Sales teams can connect CRM data through plug-ins that live in the sidebar, and marketing staff can share ChatGPT-hosted tools with colleagues who bring their own permissions. The practical shift is fewer tab switches and more work happening inside one conversation.

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