Nick Turley joined OpenAI in 2022 as the head of ChatGPT with the task of commercializing the company’s research.
Under Turley’s leadership, ChatGPT has grown to 800 million weekly active users.
ChatGPT To Be Transformed Into A New Type of Operating System
Turley now aims to transform ChatGPT into a new type of operating system that supports third-party apps.
He draws inspiration from web browsers, which have become central platforms for work due to a variety of web applications. Turley sees ChatGPT evolving in a similar way as a platform that could change how people interact with software.
OpenAI is reportedly developing a browser, although Turley did not confirm this. He described browsers as “really interesting.”
The company is also collaborating with Jony Ive and a team of former Apple designers on hardware devices, suggesting a possible consumer ecosystem centered on a ChatGPT operating system.
OpenAI has pursued the concept before, launching ChatGPT plugins and the GPT Store in 2023, though these efforts did not gain widespread traction.
The introduction of apps aligns with OpenAI’s goal of making ChatGPT an e-commerce destination. Apps from companies like Expedia, DoorDash, and Uber could facilitate transactions within ChatGPT, providing revenue opportunities for both third parties and OpenAI.
Third-party developers now have the potential to reach ChatGPT’s 800 million users during everyday conversations, making app integration a core part of the ChatGPT experience rather than a separate store.
Developers can build more interactive experiences within ChatGPT beyond simple chatbots connected to their own data.
Operating an app-based platform raises challenges, such as promoting some apps over others. Turley noted OpenAI might allow companies to pay for priority placement but is working on ways to do this without harming user experience.
OpenAI Sets Minimal Data Guidelines for Apps Amid Unclear Implementation
Developers may seek access to user data. OpenAI’s guidelines state that apps must “gather only the minimum data required to perform the tool’s function,” though practical implementation remains unclear.
Turley mentioned that new features, like partitioned memory in ChatGPT, could allow users to provide selective data access to developers.
Turley described ChatGPT as the “delivery vehicle” for OpenAI’s nonprofit mission to develop and distribute artificial general intelligence (AGI) for the benefit of humanity.
While some OpenAI researchers are concerned that the company’s consumer business could overshadow its nonprofit goals, Turley believes ChatGPT is the platform through which AGI will reach the public.
