The Digital Press

OpenAI has released an Apps SDK built on the open Model Context Protocol (MCP) to enable developers to create interoperable apps for ChatGPT and other clients. This initiative aims to expand the ecosystem by standardizing how language models connect to external tools.

Why it matters: The SDK uses an open protocol, allowing apps to work across multiple LLM clients, not just ChatGPT.

The stakes: Success depends on ecosystem adoption and whether MCP becomes a true cross-platform standard or remains OpenAI-centric.

The other side: Critics worry about platform lock-in, limited flexibility of app widgets, and a potential focus on large players over independent developers.

Commenters say: Users are skeptical about the approach’s real-world flexibility, fear monetization via app discovery bias, and debate whether language-heavy chat is the right UI model.