OpenAI just dropped two game-changing features that have me rethinking how we’ll interact with technology going forward. Their latest announcements from Dev Day show a clear vision of a future where AI doesn’t just answer questions but actively helps complete tasks across multiple platforms.
The first major update allows ChatGPT users to call upon and use third-party apps directly within conversations. The second introduces Agent Kit, a visual workflow builder that lets anyone create custom AI agents. Both features represent a significant shift in how we’ll use AI tools in our daily work.
Apps Inside ChatGPT: Your New Digital Assistant
The ability to use apps inside ChatGPT transforms it from a chatbot into something closer to a personal assistant. Need a Spotify playlist? Just type “@Spotify” followed by your request. Want to create a presentation? Call Canva or Figma without leaving your conversation.
I tested this feature by asking ChatGPT to create a Spotify playlist similar to Blink-182. Within seconds, it connected to my Spotify account and generated a playlist with songs from similar bands. I also had it create an organizational chart in Figma for a fictional AI company, which it did flawlessly.
What makes this feature powerful is how it removes friction from our digital workflows. Instead of jumping between apps, you stay in one place while ChatGPT handles the transitions. The current lineup includes:
- Booking.com for hotel reservations
- Canva for design work
- Figma for diagrams and mockups
- Spotify for music
- Zillow for real estate
More apps are coming soon, including DoorDash, Instacart, Uber, and Target. This feels like a much more integrated version of the plugins system that never quite caught on previously.
Agent Kit: Build Your Own AI Workflows
The second major announcement, Agent Kit, allows anyone to create multi-agent workflows through a visual canvas. This tool lets you build complex AI systems without coding knowledge.
Agent Kit works through a node-based interface where you can connect different components to create workflows. You can set up if-else statements, add guardrails to prevent inappropriate responses, and connect to external services through Model Context Protocols (MCPs).
While similar to existing tools like NAND, Mind Studio, and Zapier, Agent Kit has the advantage of being directly integrated with OpenAI’s ecosystem. The limitation is that it currently only works with OpenAI models, unlike competitors that support multiple AI providers.
During their demonstration, OpenAI showed how Agent Kit could be used to create:
- A conference assistant that helps attendees find relevant sessions
- A travel agent that provides flight information and customizes responses based on destinations
- Data enrichment tools that pull information from multiple sources
While these examples are relatively simple, the implications are profound. As more companies develop MCP servers to connect with these tools, we’ll see increasingly complex automations built directly inside ChatGPT.
What This Means For The Future
These developments signal a shift toward AI that doesn’t just respond to questions but actively completes tasks across multiple platforms. The boundary between AI assistants and actual human assistants is starting to blur.
For businesses building AI tools, this creates both opportunities and challenges. Companies can now integrate their services directly into ChatGPT’s massive user base. However, those offering similar functionality to Agent Kit may need to reconsider their value proposition as OpenAI continues expanding its capabilities.
For users, these tools represent a significant productivity boost. Tasks that previously required multiple apps and manual coordination can now be handled through simple conversational prompts.
The most exciting aspect is how these features lower the barrier to entry for creating complex AI workflows. Non-technical users can now build sophisticated agents that would have required development expertise just months ago.
Looking Forward
As these tools evolve, I expect we’ll see natural language interfaces for building agents—simply telling ChatGPT what workflow you want to create and having it generate the node-based structure automatically.
We’re moving toward a world where AI doesn’t just answer our questions but actively helps us accomplish tasks across our digital ecosystem. This represents a fundamental shift in how we’ll interact with technology going forward.
While there are legitimate concerns about the impact on existing businesses, the productivity gains for end users will likely drive rapid adoption. The companies that thrive will be those that find ways to complement rather than compete with these new capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which apps are currently available within ChatGPT?
The initial release includes Booking.com, Canva, Coursera, Expedia, Figma, Spotify, and Zillow. OpenAI has announced that more apps will be added soon, including DoorDash, Instacart, Khan Academy, Uber, Target, and several others.
Q: Do I need a paid ChatGPT subscription to use these new features?
Based on OpenAI’s announcement, the app integration feature appears to be available to all ChatGPT users regardless of subscription tier. There was no mention of country restrictions or plan limitations for accessing this functionality.
Q: How does Agent Kit compare to existing workflow automation tools?
Agent Kit offers similar node-based workflow creation to tools like NAND and Mind Studio, but it’s more tightly integrated with OpenAI’s ecosystem. The main limitation is that Agent Kit currently only works with OpenAI models, while competitors support multiple AI providers and have more extensive third-party integrations.
Q: Can developers monetize apps they create for ChatGPT?
OpenAI has mentioned plans for monetization where developers whose apps get integrated and used frequently would likely receive payment for that usage. This appears to be a revival of the monetization strategy originally planned for the custom GPT store.
Q: Where can I access Agent Kit to start building my own agents?
Agent Kit is available in the OpenAI developer playground. You can access it by visiting platform.openai.com/agentbuilder. The tool includes several templates to help you get started, including data enrichment, planning helpers, customer service bots, and document comparison agents.
