ChatGPT is No Longer Just a Chat Application.. Discover Its New Power

SadaNews - In a move that rethinks how users interact with software, OpenAI has transformed its popular platform "ChatGPT" from a mere "answer engine" to a "task operating system" through an application integration feature, enabling users to manage their digital lives from a single chat interface, thus ending the exhausting era of switching between dozens of separate applications.

OpenAI's new vision relies on the concept of "smart connectors", a technology that grants ChatGPT limited and secure access to third-party application databases.

For example, by linking your account in the music application "Spotify", you can ask ChatGPT to create custom playlists that automatically appear within the application, marking a crucial transition from generative AI to procedural AI.

How to Get Started?

To start using this feature and benefit from it, you first need to log in to your ChatGPT account. Then you can simply type the name of the application you wish to use at the beginning of your request, and the assistant will guide you through the login steps and linking your account.

If you'd like to set everything up at once, you can go to the settings menu, and then choose "Apps and Connectors". There, you will find a list of available applications, and you can choose the ones that suit you, which will take you to the login page for each application.

Applications You Can Benefit From Linking

The logistics and home services sector, including:

Angi: This is one of the newest companies to launch an integrated experience inside ChatGPT. It specializes in home services, allowing users to ask questions about home repairs or maintenance projects, and then request to get in touch with professionals to obtain a quote or consultation.

DoorDash: The integration with ChatGPT provides a faster way to plan meals or shop for groceries, where a user can request a meal plan, and ChatGPT will add the required ingredients directly to the shopping cart in the application.

Target: It helps shoppers get suggestions for gifts or set up a complete shopping cart directly from within the ChatGPT conversation, then complete the purchase through their Target account.

Travel and Real Estate Services, including:

Booking.com: The integration with ChatGPT helps travelers find suitable accommodations. Once the account is linked, the user can ask ChatGPT to search for hotels in a specific city based on dates, budget, and number of travelers, with the option to specify additional criteria such as proximity to transportation or the inclusion of breakfast in the booking.

Expedia services: This integration allows users to search for flights and hotels directly from within the ChatGPT conversation. They can specify travel dates, budget, and number of travelers, then proceed to the Expedia website to complete the booking.

Zillow: It helps home seekers to find suitable properties quickly by specifying price, number of rooms, and the desired area in a simple request.

Uber: It makes it easy to find transportation options while traveling. Users can set up a trip within ChatGPT and then complete the request and payment in the Uber app.

Productivity and Digital Education, including:

Wix: The integration with ChatGPT allows users to create a complete website through a text or voice command. Website owners can manage their businesses from within ChatGPT, including appointments, payments, and search engine optimization.

Canva: This integration allows for the quick creation of visual designs, such as social media posts, posters, or presentations, where users can describe the desired design, specifying colors, fonts, and dimensions, and ChatGPT will create a prototype that can later be modified within Canva.

Figma: The integration with ChatGPT allows creating diagrams and graphs like flowcharts, aiding teams in turning ideas into clear schematics. Files can also be uploaded, and a request can be made to create a product roadmap that includes work stages and deadlines.

Quizlet: It allows students to convert notes or conversations with AI into flashcards and review materials, with access to a large library of study sets.

Coursera: The integration with the e-learning platform helps quickly find suitable courses for the user's level. For example, a user can request a medium-level course in Python programming, comparing courses based on ratings, duration, and cost.

Spotify: It enables the creation of new playlists based on mood or interests, as well as discovering new artists, songs, and podcasts. ChatGPT can also add or delete items from the user's library.

A Simple Experiment

Al Jazeera conducted a simple experiment by linking our account with the well-known hotel booking site Booking.com to ChatGPT. Once the link was completed, ChatGPT transformed into the traditional chat screen, indicating that the conversation would be linked to the Booking site.

Then we asked ChatGPT to search for a 4-star hotel for a family of 5 in a specific area during the upcoming July. The result was that it displayed search results from within the Booking application directly in the chat screen, with the option to continue previewing each hotel on Booking.com, and it presented the best recommended options.

The Privacy Dilemma.. The Price for Convenience

With this development, pressing questions arise regarding data security. Linking accounts grants ChatGPT access to your personal details and records, and integrating applications like PayPal, expected soon, raises the stakes.

On its part, OpenAI assures that users retain full control through the "Apps and Connectors" list, allowing them to unlink at any moment, as the system is committed to obtaining explicit permission before executing any financial transactions or sharing sensitive data.

Reports indicate that the second half of this year will see PayPal join for completing payments, and Walmart to expand retail operations, potentially giving ChatGPT capabilities that go beyond merely answering user questions and chatting with them.

Source: Various websites