I’ve been somewhat critical of the direction of OpenAI recently. After its ‘code red’ scenario and a sweep of seemingly bad decisions, it seemed to me to be losing its footing. But its latest venture has convinced me, once again, that it is back on track.
In fact, I’d go as far as to say that this new project, the ChatGPT app store, feels like a pivotal moment for AI.
That sounds like especially high praise, considering there are AI advancements discovering drugs, cracking ancient codes and doing month-long research projects in minutes, but OpenAI’s new project is a different type of innovation.
That, in theory, doesn’t actually sound that big, right? Well, here’s why I think otherwise.
The start of something big
For the longest time, AI companies have struggled to expand outwards. There are just a small handful of companies that really run the internet, your Apples, Googles, and Amazons, but for companies like OpenAI, they’ve struggled to push past just being a product.
Yes, OpenAI has made web browsers, is making gadgets, and has released some of the most important AI tools in history. But for the most part, it has always been a product, not a platform.
With this update, that changes. For the first time, OpenAI is making an ecosystem that brings other companies in. ChatGPT goes from being just an AI tool to a portal for the internet, much like Google’s search engine has become.
Despite being in the Beta testing stage, ChatGPT has already brought in some of the biggest names in tech. It has Uber, Spotify, Apple Music, Expedia and more using its service.
As more and more companies come in, it builds on the ChatGPT experience, without OpenAI really having to do much.
Accelerating AI technology across industries
Spotify is a company that is big on AI. It has introduced heaps of artificial intelligence features, and has made the point of working hard to keep out the problems of AI, while embracing the good.
However, not all companies are going to have that same intensity. For some, while the ability to use AI prompts on their apps would be useful, it would require a lot of investment to do it.
With the ChatGPT app store, it allows AI acceleration without the work. Big companies and individuals with an idea alike can use this system to turn their app idea into an AI-powered tool.
This opens up a lot of doors for companies that wouldn’t otherwise ever take the time to delve into the functions of AI, and make a consumer tool that could benefit from it.
Making ChatGPT the go-to tool
ChatGPT has quickly become one of tech’s most important tools. It is now up there with your email, internet browser and map.
With this update, OpenAI is banking on becoming not just the tool you use when you need the answer to a complicated problem, or some advise on your latest dilemma, but the place you go to do everything.
In theory, ChatGPT is becoming the place you can do the usual things you would do on a chatbot, but also where you shop, plan holidays, book flights, find new songs, book restaurants, find walking routes and a million other things.
Like it or not, but depending on how well this launch goes, ChatGPT could one day become the center of the internet, where you go for most of your services, just with better AI built in.
The future of ChatGPT
Currently, this tool has just been out for a few days. In my time using it, it is by no means perfect. The apps integrated in often get confused, and sometimes it can be easier to just use them directly.
In fact, it could be the case that this never goes much further than what it is right now, a unique way to use apps by prompting them.
However, I’ve watched OpenAI’s development from early beginnings to what it is now. This feels like one of the company’s bigger, and more important developments to date. And who knows, possibly one of the bigger moments for the internet.
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