OpenAI’s Nick Turley Unveils Vision to Transform ChatGPT into an AI Operating System
OpenAI’s head of ChatGPT, Nick Turley, has revealed bold plans to transform the AI chatbot into a full-fledged operating system built around third-party applications. Since joining OpenAI in 2022, Turley has overseen ChatGPT’s explosive growth to more than 800 million weekly active users. Now, his next goal is to make ChatGPT a central hub for productivity, creativity, and commerce — a digital ecosystem where developers can build tools that live inside the AI itself. Speaking at OpenAI’s third annual developer conference near San Francisco, Turley said he envisions ChatGPT becoming a “platform that changes how people interact with software.”
Turley’s vision takes inspiration from web browsers, which he believes have quietly become the new operating systems of the digital era. Just as browsers evolved into platforms where people work, shop, and create, Turley sees ChatGPT evolving into a similar space — one powered by conversational intelligence. OpenAI has already made moves in this direction, reportedly developing its own browser and collaborating with legendary Apple designer Jony Ive on a family of AI-powered devices. Together, these developments hint at an ambitious push to make ChatGPT the centerpiece of OpenAI’s consumer ecosystem.
The introduction of third-party apps marks a new phase for OpenAI’s business model. Previous attempts like the GPT Store and ChatGPT plugins didn’t gain massive traction, but Turley believes the new app system will be different. By integrating apps directly into ChatGPT’s chat interface, users can perform actions like booking flights, ordering food, or learning new skills — all without leaving the platform. Major brands like Expedia, DoorDash, and Uber are already developing tools for the ecosystem, which could also open new revenue streams for both developers and OpenAI through transactions made within ChatGPT.
However, building an AI operating system also raises questions about privacy, data access, and app fairness. Turley emphasized that developers must collect only the minimum data necessary and that OpenAI will prioritize transparency. The company is exploring features like partitioned memory, allowing users to control what information apps can access. Turley also acknowledged the challenges of promoting apps fairly, suggesting that while paid placements could be possible, the company’s priority remains maintaining user trust and experience.
For Turley, the expansion of ChatGPT goes beyond business — it’s about fulfilling OpenAI’s founding mission to ensure artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. He describes ChatGPT as the “delivery vehicle” for that mission, helping millions of users learn, create, and connect with AI in everyday life. From an 89-year-old teaching himself to code to parents using ChatGPT to help children with autism, Turley believes these real-world stories prove that OpenAI’s technology is already making an impact. “ChatGPT isn’t just a product,” he says, “it’s how we bring the mission to life.”
source: Techcrunch