OpenAI Wants Everyone to Build Their Own Version of ChatGPT

OpenAI’s ChatGPT became a phenomenon thanks to its wide-ranging abilities including drafting college essays, writing working computer programs, and digging up information from across the Web.

Now the company aims to further widen the range of tricks up ChatGPT’s sleeve by making it possible for anyone to build a custom chatbot powered by the technology—without any coding skills. OpenAI suggests people might want to build custom bots to help with specific problems or interests in their life, such as helping someone learn the rules of a board game, teach their kids math, or help design stickers using AI-generated art.

To create one of these custom bots or AI agents—which OpenAI calls “GPTs”—a user need only specify, by talking with ChatGPT, what they would like the bot to do. Behind the scenes, ChatGPT will write the code needed to create and run the new bot. The bots can plug into other sites and services to do things like access databases, search emails, or automate ecommerce orders, OpenAI says.

“GPTs are a new way for anyone to create a tailored version of ChatGPT to be more helpful in their daily life, at specific tasks, at work, or at home—and then share that creation with others,” OpenAI says in a blog post today. It will launch an online chatbot store later this month where users will be able to find GPTs from “verified builders” chosen by the company.

OpenAI says chatbot builders will be able to make money by charging for access to their GPTs. People who pay for Plus or Enterprise ChatGPT subscriptions will be able to start building chatbots from today. The company says some companies, including biotech company Amgen, management consultants Bain, and payments processor Square are already building and using GPTs internally.