At DevDay 2025, OpenAI signaled a bold new direction for ChatGPT: evolving from an AI chat tool into a full-blown application platform. The next phase may turn ChatGPT into an OS, loaded with third-party services.
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From Browser to “ChatOS”
Nick Turley, product lead for ChatGPT, draws parallels to the transformation of web browsers into app platforms. He suggests ChatGPT could similarly evolve into a new layer between users and software, blurring lines between AI assistant and operating environment.
OpenAI is reportedly developing a browser, though Turley remains coy about confirming it. Meanwhile, OpenAI is collaborating with Jony Ive and designers on possible hardware, hinting at a future integrated ecosystem.
Deep Integration of Third-Party Apps
Rather than a separate app store, OpenAI is embedding third-party apps directly into ChatGPT’s core experience. Initial partners include Booking.com, Canva, Coursera, Figma, Expedia, Spotify, Zillow; later, more apps like DoorDash, Uber, Instacart, Khan Academy, and others will join.
These integrations allow richer interactivity and seamless user flows, rather than forcing users to leave ChatGPT for external apps. Such moves also support OpenAI’s ambition for ChatGPT to become a transactional platform: for example, users may be able to make bookings, meals, ride orders, etc., all inside ChatGPT.
Data, Privacy & Developer Access
A key question is data access. OpenAI’s official policy allows developers only to collect the minimal data needed for their tools, but the boundaries remain vague. Turley says OpenAI might incorporate a partitioned memory model, where users can selectively grant data permissions to apps.
Implications & Outlook
If ChatGPT truly becomes a platform OS, it changes how we think about AI — not just as a “chatbot,” but as an app host, agent, and interface to services. Users could transact, learn, work, and interact through a unified AI environment.
For developers and service providers, it opens a new channel to reach users. For OpenAI, it strengthens control over the ecosystem and potential monetization. The strategy also raises important questions about data governance, app moderation, and user trust.
