OpenAI announced on Wednesday that app developers can now submit their creations for review and possible inclusion in ChatGPT. A new directory has also been added to the chatbot's tools menu, quickly being referred to as an "app store."

Back in October, the company first revealed plans to introduce apps into its chatbot, stating this expansion would provide users with a wider range of capabilities. Several major platforms, including Expedia, Spotify, Zillow, and Canva, announced integrations allowing their services to be accessed directly within chat conversations. Now, the opportunity is being extended to a much broader developer community.

"Apps extend ChatGPT conversations by bringing in new context and letting users take actions like order groceries, turn an outline into a slide deck, or search for an apartment," the company explained in its Wednesday announcement.

For developers interested in building these new experiences, OpenAI offers its Apps SDK, which is currently in a beta phase. Once an app is ready, developers can submit it through the OpenAI Developer platform to track its approval status. The company noted that a selection of approved apps will begin launching within ChatGPT over the coming year.

This move represents a significant step for OpenAI in growing the app ecosystem inside its chatbot, simultaneously providing users with more functionality and reasons to engage with the platform.