In fact, OpenAI has already begun to review third-party app submissions for integration with ChatGPT. Look at this as what ChatGPT transitions “from a chatbot that could call a few tools to a platform where developers can submit apps native to chat within ChatGPT,” with OpenAI operating like the “app store gatekeeper.”

A detailed discussion on what occurred, the likely mechanism by which the review happens, and what it all means will follow below.

1) What happened, and why it’s a big deal

In mid-December 2025, OpenAI opened app submissions to allow developers to submit their apps to be reviewed and made available in the ChatGPT platform. Once approved, these apps will be visible in a ChatGPT App Directory visible across all ChatGPT surfaces, including web, mobile, and desktop platforms.

This is important because the “integration story” for ChatGPT is now broader than:

a handful of first-party tools, or

“a small, curated set of partner integrations.”
Rather, OpenAI is moving into a more extensive ecosystem where third parties can develop, propose, and—should they be accepted—distribute their experiences within ChatGPT.

Consider it like this:

iOS App Store reviews (but for AI experiences),

mixed with browser extensions (capabilities + permissions),

plus an additional “chat interface” layer in which the user can communicate with the language through natural language interactions.

2) “Apps in ChatGPT” vs traditional “plugins

OpenAI’s current categorization is “apps” (not only plugins). The apps are made for:

to fall naturally into a conversation,

must be proposed at the appropriate time,
or be invoked by name,

and sometimes incorporate interactive UI elements in the chat.

OpenAI has also launched Apps SDK (preview) to assist developers in creating such capabilities. The Apps SDK has been positioned as an open standard developed on Model Context Protocol (MCP) to standardize how apps and other tools communicate context and actions to models.

This means that the difference is not only in the brand. The difference is in the platform direction:

Old: ‘ChatGPT calls an external API’

New: “ChatGPT offers app-like functionality that includes structured permissions, UI, and distribution”

3) What OpenAI means by “reviewing third-party apps”

If an “app directory” is present, OpenAI must ensure the platform does not become a:

scams,

malicious data harvesting,

policy-violating content

or unsafe automation.

Therefore, the review process conducted by OpenAI is supposed to ensure that each submitted app fulfills these criteria:
Adheres to OpenAI policies
Protects privacy and data access responsibly
“Conducts itself safely when model is acting as ‘agent’”
TECHNICALLY RELIABLE & DOES NOT DEGRADE THE ChatGPT EXPERIENCE
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OpenAI holds its own developers’ pages where not only access but usage guidelines are stressed, and they also provide specific terms to developers of “Apps.”

4) Likely process of the submission + review loop

Although it is impossible to know what OpenAI has implemented internally, what is described publicly through OpenAI press releases and developer documentation indicates a pipeline something like this:
A: Build with the Apps SDK (usually through MCP)
They develop the app itself and the connections necessary, such as:
data sources,

third-party APIs,

“authenticated user accounts,”

operations like ordering, booking, searching, etc.

Step B: Provide Compliance + Disclosure Info

“Submissions usually entail,

what the app does,

what data it accesses/transmits,

how the authentication process works (things like OAuth),

what regions/countries it supports,

and a clear privacy policy.

Step C: Automated checks
During

Anticipate auto-scans for:

policy red flags (not allowed content types, deceptive patterns),

security concerns (open redirects, unsafe linkouts, credential capture risks),
permissions mismatch (“asks for more data than needed”),
“reliability problems (timeouts, repeated
Step D: Human Review

Human reviewers verify:

the actual app behavior (and not just its label),
UX clarity: Is the user able to comprehend what is taking place?
Written permissions & consents: does the user have control?
“appropriate for all audiences” constraints, if required, by listing rules.

Step E: Publication + listing in the directory

Once approved, it becomes discoverable on the apps’ directory/tools list, where it has the potential to be promoted.

Step F: Ongoing monitoring

It is a massive aspect that people often forget. Acceptance is not the endpoint:

updates may trigger re-review,

user reports can trigger an investigation,

• Repeated instances of violating policy can lead to delisting.
  and applications that “drift” into dangerous actions might be limited.

5) Why OpenAI must censor applications more thoroughly than other app stores do.

A normal app store reviews an app that executes code on a device. OpenAI, however, is grappling with a far trickier challenge:

(1) The “AI agent” is capable of acting

Such apps are more than mere utilities. They can facilitate “do stuff for me” workflows:

order groceries,

book services,

generate files,

search datasets,

sync accounts.

This implies that risk comprises the following:

unintended purchases,

social engineering,
data exfiltration

irreversible actions.

(2) Conversation as a persuasive communication channel
Conversations involve dialogue

“Chat is persuasive.” It might have persuasive powers in several ways. It can persuade users

to nudge users into divulging secrets,
In
push shady offers,

obscure where data is going,

impersonate government services.

(3) Users may mistake “ChatGPT told me so” for “this is safe.”

In fact, if there’s an integration on ChatGPT, many people would naturally assume it’s endorsed. As such, users’ trust levels become part of the review process by OpenAI.

This is also the reason why “app discovery” functionality can potentially cause issues, as OpenAI found when app recommendations seemed “ad-like,” and they disabled or reverted certain advertisement-driven behaviors.

6) Main design challenges that rule sets must address (Privacy + Permissions)

On the basis of the public developers’ guidance provided by OpenAI, some themes emerge:

Data Minimization

Apps should ask for only what they need and be forthcoming with what they are requesting.

Transparent disclosure
Transparent
The users must be able to comprehend:

what’s happening,
what the app will do,

what it will transmit outside of ChatGPT,
and what the user can cancel/disable.

Authorized access only

OpenAI’s notes explicitly mention “do not scrape” and “do not integrate with third-party services without authorization.”

Accountability
Developer accountability

OpenAI also has certain “App Developer Terms” for the listing, functioning, and obligations of such apps.

7) Monetization: Why Everyone is Watching This

The direction OpenAI (and the development community) is taking is towards monetization, and OpenAI hasn’t locked down the model publicly at this point.

The information that is known from reports and OpenAI’s plans:

Also, developers might be permitted to conduct physical goods transactions on their own sites/apps (not in chat).

Open AI has indicated it is pondering profit streams for developers.

“The app directory is a distribution channel — distribution tends to involve revenue sharing, listed or featured listings, or paid placement, although OpenAI appears to be very careful to avoid anything that looks like advertising.”

“So the big open questions are:”

Whether there will be a revenue share like Apple/Google.

Paid apps? Subscription models? Usage billing?

Featured placement rules?

How might OpenAI address “pay-to-win” spam?

8) What happens to regular users of ChatGPT

More “do it for me” functionality in the chat

Instead of turning to ChatGPT for guidance, you could find yourself increasingly:

link an app,

grant permissions,

and let the workflow process.

Specific example patterns that are mentioned by OpenAI itself include “turning outlines into slide decks, ordering groceries, or searching listings,” amongst others.

A new discovery layer
A new discovery

The App Directory is designed to consolidate what is available, making it so that the user doesn’t have to search for links on the web.

New trust decisions for users

For users on the

Just like mobile app permissions, users are now forced to think about:

Who created this app?

“What permissions am I granting?”

Does it need access to my files, email, or calendar?

The “review process” is a safety net, but it is not a guarantee for a perfectly functional app all the time.

9) What’s changed for developers (and what’s challenging)

“Distribution can be huge”
Distribution can

If your app gets added, you would be able to reach people exactly where they already are spending their time: in the chat window.
“But the bar is higher than ‘make an API’”
It is not enough to

You’ll need:

strong UX,

safe action design,

clear permission prompts,

robust auth flows,,

processing edge cases involving AI variability.

You are developing for “agentic” behavior

An app that works once a human clicks a button may fail if:
a model makes an incorrect selection,
a user asks vaguely,
“a workflow requires confirmation,” which is

or that there must be “guardrails on actions.”
There are

Apps are going to require a lot of what might be termed “defensive design,” such

confirmation procedures before any non-reversible course,

“explain what you’re about to do” checkpoints,

good error recovery.

10) Risks and Controversies OpenAI is Trying to Avoid
There has

(A) Scam and impersonation risk

“ChatGPT” or “Gemini” imitations have already been a problem on the traditional app market, which indicates the power of the impersonation reward.

“A ‘ChatGPT application directory’ would require robust identity verification and anti-spoofing policies.”

(B) “Ads inside chat” fear

Users were shocked when “app suggestions” appeared to be advertisements. OpenAI reversed some of the advertisement-type actions and admitted the company did not meet the users’ demands.

This makes the ranking/featured logic of the directory a significant governance issue.

(C) Privacy and Logging Issues When apps communicate with user information, issues extend to: where the data may go, what’s stored, what’s shared with the developer, <?php what OpenAI stores versus what the third party stores. This is why privacy policy obligations and data minimization rules are core. OpenAI Developers +2 Analytics India Magazine +2 (D) Security risk from powerful integrations If an app has the ability to interact with email, files, or business systems, harm is possible with a bug or malicious design. As models are increasing in ability, OpenAI has also been calling attention to the risks of cybersecurity as a separate issue. Reuters 11) What to watch for next (next 3-12 months) Here are the most likely “next chapters” as the ecosystem continues to evolve: Better Verification Badges

https “Verified developer” badges, enforcement of anti-impersonation policies, more Permission dashboards for users
PERMISSION Central place to view: which apps you’re connected to, what data they can access, and remove access. Monetization Rules, Ranking “Clear policies with respect to what is organic relevance, featured placements, paid promotion (if existent). Expansion of categories into regulated workflows
Finance, health care, education, hiring—are probably going to see even more restrictions. Enterprise controls
Enterprise Business/Enterprise admins may be interested in allowlisting, audit logging, or compliance reports—particularly where apps have access to company data. The Verge +1 12) Brev rapport en paraprafrase OpenAI starting the review process for third-party apps on ChatGPT implies the ChatGPT platform itself is evolving towards having an app directory where developers can upload “chat-native” apps created with Apps SDK (MCP-based), which will get published on the ChatGPT platform after going through review processes for policies, privacy, and safety. This will create entirely new opportunities for the platform but also pose new risks, which is why OpenAI introduced the formal review process.