ChatGPT gets easier to plug into your business tools
OpenAI made it simpler for developers to build ChatGPT add-ons that work with your software, and easier for you to control what each one can access.
OpenAI announced on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, that it is making ChatGPT easier to connect to the software tools your business already uses. The company added new features that let developers build app-like add-ons for ChatGPT, and it simplified the process of discovering and approving which tools can access your data.
Key facts
- OpenAI now lets developers create plug-in extensions that appear as dedicated panels in the ChatGPT sidebar, so users can work with connected tools without leaving the chat.
- The company introduced a new Plugin Creator tool to make it faster for developers to build these add-ons and submit them to OpenAI's directory.
- OpenAI is adding support for automations that start when an event occurs in a connected app, and users can approve or deny each plug-in's access to their data individually.
- ChatGPT Sites, the lightweight websites users build with ChatGPT, can now host these plug-ins too, so teams can share them with colleagues.
Does this change how you use ChatGPT at your business?
Not immediately. This update is aimed at software developers and companies that build tools. If you run a salon, a fence company, or a restaurant, you do not need to do anything right now. What matters is whether the software you already pay for—your scheduling system, your accounting program, your email—adds ChatGPT integration in the coming months. When they do, the process should be smoother than before.
What should you watch for?
Pay attention to whether your vendors announce ChatGPT plug-ins. If your appointment-booking software, your invoicing tool, or your inventory system connects to ChatGPT, you will be able to ask ChatGPT questions about your business data without copying information back and forth between programs. For example, you might ask ChatGPT to summarize your week's appointments or flag overdue invoices. The key difference now is that you control which tools can see which data, one at a time, instead of granting blanket access.
What does this mean for your business in practice?
In the short term, nothing. In the medium term, your software vendors may start offering ChatGPT integration as a feature. When they do, you will have an easier way to ask ChatGPT questions about your business without manually copying data into the chat. Whether that saves you time depends on how you work now. If you already use ChatGPT for quick questions, you might appreciate not having to paste information. If you do not use ChatGPT yet, this does not change that calculation. The real question is whether the tools you pay for add this feature, and whether it actually fits your workflow. Do not adopt it just because it exists.
Sources
- OpenAI expands ChatGPT’s plug-ins with app-like interfaces and automations - TechCrunch, September 29, 2026
They did the reporting. The writing and the opinions here are ours.
Questions people ask about this
Do I need to do anything because of this ChatGPT update?
No, not right now. This update is for software developers. You only need to act if your accounting software, scheduling system, or other business tool announces a ChatGPT plug-in.
What is a ChatGPT plug-in and why should I care?
A plug-in connects ChatGPT to your other software so you can ask ChatGPT questions about your business data without copying information back and forth. For example, you could ask ChatGPT to summarize your week's sales or flag unpaid invoices.
Can I control what data each plug-in sees?
Yes. You approve each plug-in individually and decide what data it can access. This gives you more granular control than granting blanket access to all your information.
Will this make ChatGPT work better for my small business?
Only if your vendors build plug-ins and you decide to use them. This update makes it easier for developers to create those plug-ins, but it does not automatically improve ChatGPT for you unless the tools you already pay for add the feature.
When will my software have ChatGPT integration?
That depends on each vendor. Some may add it soon, others may never build it. Watch for announcements from the companies you pay for.
Should I switch to ChatGPT if I am not using it yet?
Not because of this update. Decide whether ChatGPT helps your business based on your actual work, not on new features aimed at developers.
This piece is about OpenAI expands ChatGPT’s plug-ins with app-like interfaces and automations, published by TechCrunch. Go read the original; the opinions here are ours and the reporting is theirs.