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OpenAI's GPT Store Struggles to Compete with Apple

OpenAI's ambitious 'GPT Store' faces slow growth and developer hurdles. Learn the meaning of 미미하다 in this IT news brief.

#openai #chatgpt #it-news #korean-vocabulary #tech-trends

Summary

OpenAI launched its GPT Store with the ambitious goal of creating a mobile-like ecosystem within ChatGPT, allowing third-party companies to host "mini-apps." However, six months after its debut, reports suggest the platform is struggling to gain significant traction.

Industry analysts and developers have pointed out that the current state of the GPT Store is limited compared to established giants like Apple's App Store. Technical hurdles and a lack of seamless integration are cited as primary reasons for the underwhelming performance.

Developers are reportedly frustrated by a cumbersome approval process and a lack of detailed usage data, which makes it difficult to optimize their apps. Furthermore, many apps still require users to leave the ChatGPT interface to complete transactions, breaking the "all-in-one" experience OpenAI promised.

While OpenAI maintains that the store is a core part of its long-term strategy, major partners like Booking.com have noted that direct traffic from the GPT Store remains negligible compared to traditional search engines and advertising.

Full story (translated & rewritten)

According to reports from Bloomberg and industry sources on March 30 (local time), the GPT Store—OpenAI’s attempt to replicate the success of the Apple App Store—is facing a reality check. When it was first announced, the tech world expected a massive shift where users could book flights via Booking.com or play music via Spotify without ever leaving the ChatGPT interface.

However, the actual experience has been far more fragmented. Currently, while over 300 apps are technically integrated, their functionality is often restricted. One major sticking point is the "customer relationship" data. Many partner companies are hesitant to hand over user payment information or detailed interaction logs to OpenAI, leading to a disconnected user experience where the final purchase must happen on an external site.

On the technical side, developers are complaining about persistent bugs in the coding system and a lack of analytics. Without knowing exactly how users are interacting with their mini-apps, developers find it nearly impossible to fix errors or improve the user interface. This has led to a delay in the release of more sophisticated apps.

Glenn Fogel, CEO of Booking.com, recently commented in an interview that it is still much easier for customers to find accommodations directly on their own platform. He noted that the traffic coming through ChatGPT is currently "insignificant" compared to the massive amounts the company spends on Google search ads.

OpenAI has acknowledged these growing pains. A spokesperson stated that the platform is still in its early stages and that they are actively working to make the developer experience more stable, predictable, and user-friendly over time. For now, the dream of a "ChatGPT-centric" app ecosystem remains a work in progress.

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