ChatGPT Plus Users Gain Access to 70+ Plugins for Enhanced Functionality and Expanded Capabilities

ChatGPT Plus users now have access to a diverse range of over 70 plugins developed by individual creators and companies such as Instacart and Kayak. These plugins allow for expanded functionality within ChatGPT, marking a significant shift in OpenAI’s approach to integrating external knowledge into its chatbot.

Previously reliant on internal servers for information, ChatGPT can now tap into the expertise and resources of third-party plugins. This ecosystem resembles popular app stores, Alexa skills, or browser extensions like those found in Chrome. The announcement of these plugins in March generated excitement, and they will be available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers ($20/month) from May 19.

According to Daniel Galati, a software developer and the owner of BeABetterDev, plugins enable companies to seamlessly incorporate industry-specific context into ChatGPT’s capabilities, unlocking a wide array of potential use cases. This move has the potential to redefine the landscape of chatbots and internet searches, although the success of these plugins remains to be seen.

The plugin development process is open to corporations, individuals with engineering skills, and OpenAI itself. OpenAI currently offers two plugins. The first plugin grants ChatGPT access to the internet, facilitating conversations about recent events beyond its knowledge cutoff in September 2021. The second plugin, called Code Interpreter, allows users to perform complex calculations in Python, streamlining programming workflows.

In addition to OpenAI’s offerings, third-party plugins developed by external companies like Kayak and Instacart operate differently. These plugins establish connections between ChatGPT and external services, enabling users to perform tasks like trip planning or grocery shopping through services like Kayak, Expedia, or Instacart.

The introduction of these plugins represents a significant expansion of ChatGPT’s capabilities and opens up new possibilities for users, making it a more versatile and useful tool for various tasks.