The Birth of a New Platform (vivekhaldar.com)

OpenAI has launched a new app store for ChatGPT, allowing developers to submit applications directly to the platform. This initiative marks a significant evolution for the AI community, reminiscent of the early days of the iOS App Store. Developers now face an array of challenges as they navigate OpenAI's unique conventions established atop the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Currently, there is limited tooling for building and testing apps, pushing developers to rely on basic methods to create and render their applications within ChatGPT. Despite the rough edges, this new platform presents an unparalleled opportunity for developers to access a sprawling user base of 800 million weekly active users. The shift toward LLMs (large language models) introduces a unique dynamic where user intent can lead to app selection based on relevance rather than brand recognition, potentially reshaping the way consumers engage with applications. With monetization details still unclear, the future of app development in this space remains uncertain yet promising, illustrating a paradigm shift that could redefine how users interact with AI-powered platforms.