Summary of "Intro to ChatGPT Apps - The NEW App Store??"

Intro to ChatGPT Apps - The NEW App Store??

The video titled “Intro to ChatGPT Apps - The NEW App Store??” provides an in-depth overview and analysis of the newly released ChatGPT Apps and the Apps SDK by OpenAI. It focuses on their technological framework, features, and opportunities for developers.

Key Technological Concepts and Features

ChatGPT Apps Overview

ChatGPT Apps are third-party applications that can be invoked directly within the ChatGPT chat window. Users can request an app by name, and ChatGPT will either suggest or activate the app to fulfill the request. The app then displays a small embedded user interface (UI) within the chat.

Current Available Apps

Examples of apps currently available include:

Booking.com (hotel bookings)
Canva (presentations)
CourseRacks
Pedia (travel info)
Figma (design)
Spotify (music playlists)
Zillow (real estate search)

User Experience Demo

The video demonstrates connecting Spotify within ChatGPT, showing how the user can:

Authenticate via OAuth 2.1
Request a personalized playlist
Interact with the app’s UI embedded directly in the chat window

Underlying Protocol - MCP (Model Context Protocol)

The new Apps SDK extends the MCP protocol, which is an open standard enabling communication between AI assistants and external apps. Key points include:

MCP allows apps to return data in various formats such as text, JSON, and arrays.
OpenAI’s new standard adds a defined schema including metadata and an HTML template for the app’s UI within ChatGPT.

Apps SDK for Developers

Open source and built on MCP, allowing apps to run anywhere supporting this standard.
Enables developers to design both app logic and UI components, which are displayed via iframes inside the chat window.
Authentication uses OAuth 2.1, consistent with MCP standards.
Developers can run and test apps locally before submitting them to ChatGPT.
OpenAI plans to launch a dedicated app directory/store where users can browse, search, and use apps.
Guidelines for app approval and potential monetization will be provided, including support for a new agentic Commerce Protocol for instant checkout.

Development Workflow

Planning Stage Assess app viability, define use cases, tools, and UI components.
Building Stage Develop an MCP server backend and custom UI components.
Deployment Host your backend independently; ChatGPT connects remotely.

Future Roadmap

Expansion of available apps beyond the initial six or seven.
Opening submissions for third-party developers.
Launching apps tailored for business, enterprise, and educational sectors.
Introducing monetization options and a formal app directory.

Community and Learning Resources

The speaker offers links to:

A free community for developers
Tutorials and premium courses on MCP servers and AI engineering
Support for building ChatGPT Apps

Reviews, Guides, and Tutorials Mentioned

Live demo of using the Spotify app inside ChatGPT.
Upcoming tutorial video series on building ChatGPT Apps with the Apps SDK.
References to prior videos and courses explaining MCP and OAuth 2.1 setup.
Invitation to join a community for support and Q&A.

Main Speaker

The video is presented by a technology educator and content creator who runs a YouTube channel focused on AI development. The speaker provides detailed explanations, demonstrations, and plans to release further tutorials related to ChatGPT Apps and the Apps SDK.

Summary

This video serves as an introductory guide and analysis of OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Apps and the Apps SDK. It emphasizes the integration of third-party applications within ChatGPT through an open MCP-based protocol. The video highlights: