As reported by Michael Cann in PCMag, ChatGPT is now offering the ability for users to open external experiences, whether it be Zillow, Spotify, or other applications they use. ChatGPT is billing this as more of an operating system — something like macOS, Windows, or iOS — as opposed to an App Store per se.
An operating system becomes awfully powerful because as people become more in tune with going to ChatGPT looking for information and answers to questions, they’ll now be provided with third party solutions, and maybe even the opportunity to use them right inside ChatGPT.
Imagine using ChatGPT to find a list of houses or condominiums of a certain size, price range, and location, with the right number of rooms and bathrooms and it’ll open up Zillow with the info filled in for you.
ChatGPT might actually be better than using individual apps because it can accelerate the flow of asking questions and getting answers so much faster than an application that isn’t built the way ChatGPT is—for conversations. It could revolutionize the way we use applications.
This all comes on the back of the fact that ChatGPT has now grown to 800 million weekly active users. Those 800 million people can now intersect with applications and solutions available within ChatGPT’s own operating system. It’s hard to imagine where this might all go.
In addition, ChatGPT is looking to bring companies on board by offering a new app software development kit. Something that sounds a lot like the way Apple turned software developers into app developers through its App Store.
In the coming weeks, Cann reports we’re expected to see companies like Target, DoorDash, Instacart, Uber, Uber Eats, and more becoming accessible through ChatGPT.
As for what this means for the law?
In time, it could affect how lawyers conduct research, perhaps surfacing new tools and applications for that purpose. It could also effect publishing by lawyers and other legal professionals. Imagine sharing what you want to say and ChatGPT retrieving an app for you to do your digital publishing. Or rather than answering business and consumer legal questions as ChatGPT does today, opening an app with more credible legal information.
Who knows? What we are seeing is ChatGPT becoming more of a force day by day and week by week. It’s growing very powerful, even compared to earlier this year. Hard to imagine how far along it will be by the middle or the end of next year, and just how disruptive it might become in the way we use the Internet compared to how we’ve used the net for the last 25 years and 10+ years for apps.