OpenAI Adds App-Like Plugin Extensions and Automations to ChatGPT
OpenAI says developers can now give ChatGPT plugins dedicated sidebar spaces and interactive panels, including product-specific file viewers. Announced Sept. 29, 2026, the update adds per-plugin permission approval, a Plugin Creator, and support for MCP Events automations.
OpenAI announced at its Dev Day presentation on September 29, 2026, that developers can now build app-like experiences directly inside ChatGPT using a new plugin extensions system.
While ChatGPT already supports plugins that connect to tools such as Slack, SharePoint, Airtable, and Google Drive, the new plugin extensions go further by giving apps a dedicated space in the ChatGPT sidebar. Developers can also build interactive panels that allow users to work with their tools while simultaneously chatting with ChatGPT, including file viewers that support the file formats specific to each developer’s product.
OpenAI is also simplifying the process of building and distributing plugins. A new Plugin Creator tool is available for development, and a redesigned submission flow for the plugin directory now offers developers clearer feedback. On the user side, OpenAI says it has improved how plugins are ranked and recommended — both within the directory and during conversations — and users can now approve each plugin’s access permissions individually.
ChatGPT Sites, the platform’s lightweight website builder, will also be able to host these plugin extensions. This could allow users to share custom apps with colleagues, who can then use them with their own connected data and permissions.
In addition, OpenAI announced support for the proposed MCP Events specification, which would enable plugins to trigger automations based on events occurring in a connected app. The company says it is also making automations easier to add and manage overall.
The announcements suggest OpenAI is positioning ChatGPT not just as a conversational tool, but as a broader platform capable of hosting and integrating third-party applications — a space traditionally occupied by standalone software and mobile app ecosystems.