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Let’s be honest: most marketers don’t need another AI announcement showing new “revolutionary” features.
They need one that actually matters.
And OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Apps update might finally be it.
For the first time, ChatGPT isn’t just a chatbot that writes ad copy or social posts. It’s opening its doors to apps that can connect directly to your marketing workflow.
In other words, ChatGPT now has the capacity to handle real marketing tasks in your everyday workflow, such as posting on social media on your behalf, updating CRM workflows, and much more.
That doesn’t mean ChatGPT Apps are going to be the be-all, end-all solution (or that you should dump your tech stack tomorrow).
But it does mean you can start testing real integrations for your marketing workflow that could make your day-to-day less messy.
We’ve had our fair share of helping marketing teams cut through the noise of AI hype to find what actually delivers ROI.
And with this latest update from OpenAI, we’re seeing signs that ChatGPT apps could be impactful for your long-term digital marketing goals.
In this article, you’ll learn what these ChatGPT apps are, how they work, and how they could streamline your digital marketing faster than you think.
Why Does This New ChatGPT Update Matter For Marketers?
You’ve probably seen enough AI news bits and launches to know most “game changers” don’t change much.
So why should this one?
Well, here’s some insight: it might be the first real sign that AI tools are starting to fit around the way marketers already work, instead of forcing marketers to work around the tools.
That means no more jumping between ten tabs just to brief a campaign, draft content, check results, and send a report.
OpenAI’s new Apps feature turns ChatGPT from a smart writing assistant into a platform where you can actually do most of your work instead of just a portion of it.
Developers (and soon, even non-technical users) can build and install apps that connect ChatGPT to real-world data and systems.
For you and your team, this could mean:
- Pulling performance data without opening multiple tabs.
- Sending draft ideas or reports straight into shared channels.
- Letting ChatGPT handle small, repetitive admin tasks so you and your team can focus on strategy (we’ll share some examples later in the article).
It’s important to remember, however, that ChatGPT Apps won’t replace your CRM, ad platforms, or analytics tools. What it does do is bring AI closer to the day-to-day workflow, bridging the gap between ideation and execution so you can save time and scale your results.
What Exactly are ChatGPT Apps, and How Do They Work?
Think of ChatGPT Apps as the next phase of what used to be Plugins.
In the past, plugins let you connect ChatGPT to a few external services, but the setup was clunky and limited. To work around this, OpenAI recently released an Apps SDK.
This means developers can build tools that run inside ChatGPT with smoother, faster integrations.
Having apps inside ChatGPT, simply put, is like adding a new skill to your AI assistant.
Instead of just talking to you, it can now talk to other tools in your workflow and take action.
You won’t be able to find these apps on the “Explore GPTs” tab like you would with previous apps. To use these, type in this prompt formula with GPT-5: “[App Name], [Prompt/task you want it to do]”.
For example, you might say “Canva, design me an image ad for my brand.” And just like that, ChatGPT will work with Canva to design an image ad for you within the same chat window.
This is extending ChatGPT into a functional workspace where different tools can work together.
Here are a few possibilities you can expect from this latest update over the next few months (or years):
- You can connect ChatGPT to your CRM to check how many leads came in last week and brainstorm potential strategies to reach out to each of them.
- You could use ChatGPT to pull your latest campaign performance without opening your Google Ads tab and analyse opportunities for improvement.
- You can link to a Notion or Slack App so ChatGPT can summarise a meeting and post it in your internal team docs or chats.
- You could ask Figma to design a landing page for you.
- You can ask Canva to design image ads for you.
All of this happens inside ChatGPT’s chat window: no switching tabs, no messy exports. And by keeping more information in one workspace, you could improve your team’s work efficiency by as much as 30 per cent.
Here’s an example of using Figma inside ChatGPT:
While the ChatGPT Apps update is still in its early days, OpenAI’s goal is clear: make ChatGPT a workspace where you can ask, act, and analyse, all in one place.
What Can You Actually Do with ChatGPT Apps right now?
Right now, ChatGPT Apps are brand new. So, the real opportunity here for you is in experimentation.
There are already a few apps live in ChatGPT that you can start using today (and many more are expected to roll out over the coming months). Here are a few options you can try adding to your workflow:
1. Canva ChatGPT App: Generate visuals, slides, or templates directly in ChatGPT.
The Canva ChatGPT App helps you move from concept to first draft without opening another tab.
You can ask it to design campaign visuals, edit templates, or brainstorm layouts, all in one thread.
You might say:
- “Design a social post announcing our new ebook”
- “Create a simple ad graphic for our HubSpot workshop”
- “Draft me a set of carousel slides for our blog post”
Once you prompt it, this ChatGPT App passes your request to Canva, generates a draft design, and shows you a preview you can open or refine.
If you need to visualise ideas quickly, share mock-ups with your team, or test creative directions before handing them to design, then the Canva ChatGPT app could be worth looking into.
(Want to get the best possible results out of what you generate with the Canva ChatGPT app? These five Canva features can help speed the process up for you.)
2. Figma ChatGPT App: Design wireframes, diagrams, website pages, or prototypes on command.
With the Figma ChatGPT App, you can move from concept to prototype without needing a separate wireframing session.
You might say:
- “Create a landing page layout for our free HubSpot audit campaign”
- “Sketch an email sign-up form for our blog”
- “Create a diagram that we can use for our latest content creation SOP”
ChatGPT triggers Figma to create a basic frame (headers, calls-to-action, form blocks) that your design team can later customise.
It helps marketers visualise ideas early, cut down on back-and-forth with designers, and ensure campaigns go live faster.
3. Coursera ChatGPT App: Upskill your team on demand
The Coursera ChatGPT App brings on-the-spot learning into your workflow.
You can use it to find courses or short lessons relevant to whatever problem you’re tackling.
For example, you could tell the Coursera ChatGPT App:
- “Show me a beginner course on Google Ads optimisation”
- “Find an advanced HubSpot automation tutorial”
- “Teach me how to write blog articles”
With the Coursera ChatGPT App, you and your team have a quick and easy way to turn downtime into development time by letting it pull relevant training for you in seconds.
This kind of just-in-time learning could keep you and your team up-to-date even if you have no time for formal training programs.
Keep in mind that you’ll only get previews of courses unless you link your paid Coursera account to your ChatGPT account.
Still not sure about how to get the best output from ChatGPT (and its new apps)? Check out this guide:
How to Create Prompts from Scratch in ChatGPT
What Should You Know Before Using ChatGPT Apps?
Before you start using OpenAI’s latest release and connecting accounts, let’s dial back for a moment.
Like any new feature, ChatGPT Apps come with limitations… and a few things you should check before trusting them with sensitive data.
Here are a few things you should know before adding the apps we just mentioned to your workflow:
1. Security and data access matter
Each ChatGPT app you’ll use may request access to certain data. Always read what it’s asking for before approving anything.
If an app connects to your CRM, analytics, or email platform, make sure:
- It’s built by a trusted developer.
- You understand what data it can view or edit.
- Your team agrees on clear permissions.
Think of it like connecting a new integration to HubSpot: it’s not advisable to do that blindly, and the same logic applies here.
2. Expect early glitches
ChatGPT Apps are new, which means a few rough edges are inevitable.
You might see connection errors, missing features, or inconsistent performance.
That’s normal for a first release.
Treat this stage as testing, not full adoption.
3. Keep your workflow in control
It’s easy to get excited about automation, but ChatGPT Apps (and AI, in general) are only useful when they support your actual process.
Before you plug in an app, ask:
“Does this solve a real problem, or am I just curious?”
If it’s the latter, that’s fine; but remember that you might want to avoid revamping your workflow around something unproven.
4. Watch for new releases
The next few months will see a flood of new apps built by third-party developers and agencies.
Keep an eye on those that integrate with tools you already use (like HubSpot, Google Ads, Analytics, or Slack).
That’s where the real value will start to show up.
This Could Be Your Sign to Start Exploring ChatGPT Apps
AI moves fast, but your goal as a marketer hasn’t changed: get better results with less friction.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Apps are a signal that AI’s moving from idea generator to workflow partner… and the marketers who learn how to use it early will quietly pull ahead of the ones still waiting for “the right time.”
But that doesn’t mean you need to rebuild your entire stack tomorrow.
It means you have a window (which is right now, as you’re reading this) to start experimenting while the learning curve is still low, and the competition is still distracted.
So, here’s your next step:
Pick one small part of your process that feels clunky: maybe reporting, content ideation, or CRM updates.
Try connecting it to ChatGPT using an early app, or even map out what that connection could look like; and then, repeat the process until you start to see the results you’re looking for.
How Can You Start Using AI In Your Business Today?
