OpenAI has introduced significant enhancements to ChatGPT’s plug-in ecosystem, unveiled at its DevDay event on September 29, 2026. These upgrades enable developers to create app-like experiences within ChatGPT through plug-in extensions that feature dedicated sidebar homes and interactive panels. Users can engage with tools such as Slack, SharePoint, Airtable, and Google Drive more seamlessly, even accessing file viewers that support various file formats. OpenAI is also improving the developer experience by launching a Plugin Creator tool and streamlining the submission and review process for new plug-ins.

Beyond interface improvements, OpenAI is positioning ChatGPT as a new kind of app discovery and usage platform, challenging traditional app store models. With over 1.2 billion weekly users, ChatGPT will proactively suggest relevant apps during conversations, enabling users to connect and use these services directly within the chat interface. The system supports lightweight ChatGPT Sites, where users can share apps with colleagues, allowing personalized experiences via individual credentials and permissions.

OpenAI’s expansion also includes support for the MCP Events specification, which facilitates automations triggered by events in connected apps. This development makes it easier for users and developers to add and manage automations within ChatGPT. The company revealed an enterprise app marketplace hosting more than 30 partners, including Adobe, Figma, Salesforce, and HubSpot, allowing enterprises to integrate and apply their OpenAI commitment funds toward approved partner software.

A notable innovation is the rollout of autonomous AI agents called Dots, designed to proactively assist with tasks by navigating the web and executing assignments using connected apps. Each Dot operates with its own cloud computer and browser, increasing efficiency by managing projects or bug fixes on behalf of the user with full approval control. These features underline OpenAI’s effort to transform ChatGPT into a comprehensive platform for software discovery, usage, and agent-driven task automation, signaling a potential shift away from traditional app stores toward AI-centric ecosystems.