{"url":"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/artificial-intelligence/openai-plan-for-chatgpt-super-app-hobbled-by-gatekeeping-gripes","title":"OpenAI Plan for ChatGPT Super App Hobbled by Gatekeeping, Gripes","domain":"news.bloomberglaw.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/6804612/pexels-photo-6804612.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","category":"Tech","language":"en","slug":"ae87f8f8","id":"ae87f8f8-177e-4c3f-bd51-b15f7683c736","description":"OpenAI's ChatGPT mini-apps plan faces slow start six months in.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- **OpenAI**'s **ChatGPT** mini-apps plan faces slow start six months in.\n- **300+** integrations exist but suffer limited use and developer complaints.\n- Hinders **super app** ambitions amid **Apple** rivalry and competition.\n\n## The story at a glance\n**OpenAI** aimed to build a **ChatGPT** super app via third-party mini-apps from firms like **Spotify** and **Booking Holdings**, mimicking **Apple**'s **App Store**. Six months post-launch, adoption lags due to partner hesitancy on payments and data, plus developer frustrations with approvals and tools. This comes as **OpenAI** streamlines products ahead of potential **IPO**.\n\n## Key moments & milestones\n- Last year: **OpenAI** announces mini-apps for **ChatGPT**, partnering with **Spotify Technology SA**, **Booking Holdings Inc.**, **Figma**, **Expedia**, **Target**.\n- Six months ago: Platform launches with initial integrations.\n- November 2025: **Apple** imposes **15%** cut on super app in-app purchases.\n- Now: **300+** app integrations available, but **70** apps approved last week alone after process speedup.\n- Recently: **OpenAI** discontinues **Sora** video tool; plans unified desktop app with **Atlas** browser.\n\n## Signature highlights\n- Partners limit functionality to retain customer relationships and payments; few apps enable full checkout inside **ChatGPT**.\n- Developers report **tedious** approval process with AI-flagged false rejections, **buggy** coding tools, scarce usage analytics.\n- **Booking** CEO **Glenn Fogel**: Referral traffic from **ChatGPT** remains \"small\" vs. **Google** ad spend.\n- **StubHub**'s **Nayaab Islam**: Consumers wary of sharing credit cards with AI; no primary buying channel yet.\n- **Apple**'s policy targets super apps like **ChatGPT** to protect **App Store** revenue.\n- **Criteo** survey: **55%** of **6,000** global consumers cautious on AI payments; **96%** use multiple channels.\n\n## Key quotes\n- **Glenn Fogel** (**Booking** CEO): “It’s easier to discover listings on **Booking.com**.”\n- **OpenAI** spokesperson: “We’re still early in building this out, and we recognize there are areas where the developer experience needs to improve.”\n- **Nayaab Islam** (**StubHub** President): “Having more options is a great thing for a business like ours.”\n- **Hanh Nguyen** (**Fractal** CEO): Developers face lengthy approvals with “false signals” from AI review.\n\n## Why it matters\nSuper apps challenge **Apple** and **Google** ecosystems but face platform rules and trust hurdles. Developers and consumers get limited value now, slowing **OpenAI**'s user growth and revenue diversification. Watch **OpenAI**'s desktop app launch, developer tool fixes, and partner expansions for traction.","hashtags":["#ai","#openai","#chatgpt","#apple","#tech","#apps"],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-04T17:19:47.268Z"}