ChatGPT plugins get sidebar panels, file viewers and a Plugin Creator
OpenAI says plugin extensions give apps a home in ChatGPT's sidebar, with interactive panels and file viewers, and a Plugin Creator builds plugins through conversation.
OpenAI expanded ChatGPT plugins at DevDay on Tuesday, according to TechCrunch. Plugin extensions, OpenAI says, give an app a dedicated home in the ChatGPT sidebar and let developers build interactive panels where people work with their tools while chatting. Developers can also build viewers for the file types their products use.
Plugin Creator is a new tool that, per OpenAI, lets a user describe a workflow, add instructions and reference files, then build and refine a reusable plugin through conversation. OpenAI also redesigned plugin submission so developers can track reviews, see what needs fixing, request human review and update tools without restarting.
OpenAI says it is adding support for the proposed MCP Events specification, which would let plugins start automations when something happens in a connected app. ChatGPT Sites, the lightweight websites people build with ChatGPT, can now host plugins, letting colleagues use a shared app with their own data and permissions.
TechCrunch reports OpenAI improved how plugins are ranked and recommended, including surfacing them mid-conversation, and users can approve each plugin's access needs individually. The X account @thsottiaux, which posted about plugin discovery on ChatGPT, wrote that open ecosystems will win. OpenAI has not published usage figures for the directory.