OpenAI's Aggressive Playbook Turns ChatGPT into a Platform
I still remember the buzz when OpenAI dropped ChatGPT in late 2022 - a chatbot that could write, code and answer questions with an uncanny fluency. At first it seemed like a straightforward demo of generative AI, a way to show what the tech could do. Over the past year, though, the plan has gotten a lot sharper. It’s no longer just about having the smartest chatbot; OpenAI appears to be turning ChatGPT into a full-blown platform.
The evidence is hard to miss. They’ve added custom-built versions called GPTs, rolled out a desktop app, and even introduced memory features that let the bot recall past interactions. Most recently they announced a suite of tools for developers to embed ChatGPT deep inside their own apps. These aren’t random tweaks - they feel like deliberate steps to make ChatGPT the go-to hub for AI, much like an operating system is for a PC.
All of this feels like a push to lock down a leading spot before rivals catch up. One analyst put it bluntly: “The company is running basically every tech industry playbook, all at the same time, and it actually seems to be working.”
The company is running basically every tech industry playbook, all at the same time, and it actually seems to be working. The company is adding apps to ChatGPT, in an effort to turn the chatbot into something more like an operating system. It’s offering developers new tools to add ChatGPT into their existing apps.
It’s making huge, somewhat circular deals with every chip company everywhere. And, oh yeah, it’s basically building ChatGPTikTok. Maybe it’s real, maybe it’s Sora On The Vergecast: ChatGPT apps, TikTok clones, AI wearables, and everything else OpenAI is up to.
On The Vergecast: ChatGPT apps, TikTok clones, AI wearables, and everything else OpenAI is up to. On this episode of The Vergecast, we talk through everything OpenAI is up to. The Verge’s Hayden Field was at the Dev Day event this week, and takes David and Jake on a tour of the vibes, the announcements, and the occasionally very confusing rationale for why OpenAI is doing what it’s doing.
OpenAI has been moving at a breakneck pace. It’s trying to be a platform, a development partner and even a media creator all at once - a kind of all-out push that feels like the only way to lock down a spot in a quickly maturing AI market. That’s not a cautious, one-track strategy; it’s more like a claim on the whole field in a single swing.
The real question probably won’t be the buzz around the launch week. What will matter is whether developers actually start building inside ChatGPT and whether users think the bundled app experience beats the separate tools they already use. This aggressive rollout also brings up the old worry about power concentration.
As OpenAI aims to become the go-to hub for AI interactions, the rest of the industry will be watching to see if this approach sparks real innovation or just adds another powerful gatekeeper. The plan is obvious, but the long-term fallout is anything but certain.
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Common Questions Answered
How is OpenAI attempting to turn ChatGPT into something more like an operating system?
OpenAI is adding apps to ChatGPT, which is a key part of the strategy to evolve it from a single product into a full-fledged platform. This approach aims to make the chatbot a central hub for various functionalities, similar to how an operating system works.
What new tools is OpenAI offering to developers as part of its platform strategy?
OpenAI is providing developers with new tools to integrate ChatGPT into their existing applications. This move is designed to expand ChatGPT's reach and utility, making it a core component of a wider ecosystem of software.
What does the article suggest about the nature of OpenAI's deals with chip companies?
The article describes OpenAI's deals with chip companies as huge and somewhat circular. These agreements are a critical part of the company's aggressive, multi-pronged strategy to secure the resources needed for its expansive ambitions.
According to the article, what is the real test for OpenAI's multi-front offensive?
The real test is whether developers will genuinely embrace building on the ChatGPT platform beyond the initial announcement buzz. Long-term success depends on attracting a robust developer ecosystem to sustain the platform's growth.