OpenAI’s head of ChatGPT, Nick Turley, told reporters at DevDay 2025 that the company expects ChatGPT to evolve dramatically over the next six months — from a powerful app into something more like a lightweight operating system. Within ChatGPT, users will be able to access existing services like Spotify, Canva, Zillow, Coursera, and new “native” apps built on top of ChatGPT itself. Turley described this shift as making ChatGPT not just a useful tool, but the hub for software access and task execution. Meanwhile, OpenAI unveiled a new apps SDK to enable deeper integration of third-party services inside ChatGPT and plans to launch a ChatGPT “app store” where developers can publish apps for users to browse and install.
Sources: Business Insider, Wired
Key Takeaways
– The upcoming six months are positioned as a turning point: ChatGPT is expected to drift from being “just an app” toward functioning like an OS, where multiple apps and services can run inside it.
– OpenAI is releasing tools (SDKs, app integration frameworks) so that third-party developers can embed interactive services (Spotify, Zillow, Canva, etc.) directly into ChatGPT, reducing context switching.
– A ChatGPT-centric “app store” or directory is in the works, where developers can publish and monetize apps that integrate deeply with ChatGPT’s capabilities.
In-Depth
ChatGPT, once primarily a conversational interface layered on top of language models, is now being recast as a platform or even an “operating system” in its own right. At DevDay 2025, OpenAI’s leadership laid out a vision of internal app integration, deeper developer tooling, and a seamless experience where users don’t exit the chat environment to perform common tasks in third-party services.
Nick Turley’s remarks were direct: over the next six months, ChatGPT will transition from being a super useful app to something that feels more like an OS. The idea is that users would no longer switch windows or apps — you could, for example, ask ChatGPT to search for real estate on Zillow, design a graphic in Canva, or curate a Spotify playlist, all without leaving the chat interface. Turley mentioned both existing software (things people already use) and newly built software “natively” atop ChatGPT.
To support this shift, OpenAI introduced a developer SDK for creating “ChatGPT apps,” enabling external services to plug into the model in a richer way than simple plugins or API calls. Business Insider reported that early partners include heavy hitters like Canva, Zillow, Figma, Expedia, Coursera, and Spotify, and that OpenAI will accept app submissions, manage data-sharing permissions, and allow monetization inside its ecosystem. The Verge further noted that OpenAI envisions mature apps being discoverable inside ChatGPT and that the app model will evolve over time.
This move toward platformization aligns with OpenAI’s broader strategy to capture more of the value chain. Instead of being merely an AI backend that users invoke for tasks, ChatGPT is becoming the environment in which tasks, commerce, and daily productivity take place. The “app store” concept hints at OpenAI positioning itself as both infrastructural layer and marketplace, competing (in a sense) with traditional app stores.
That said, this evolution brings challenges. Developer adoption must be strong. Security, privacy, and data governance become even more critical when multiple services are deeply embedded. Performance and latency constraints will be tested by real-time use. And OpenAI will need to balance control (to ensure safety, consistency, quality) with openness (to attract innovation and diversity of apps).
Still, what’s striking is the confidence behind the ambition: OpenAI sees ChatGPT not just as a tool, but as a foundational interface for future digital interaction. If it succeeds, the way we think about apps, AI assistants, and daily software workflows could shift significantly.