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When OpenAI released desktop app versions of ChatGPT, it was clear the goal was to get more users to bring ChatGPT into their daily workflows. Now, new updates to Mac OS and Windows PC versions encourage users to stay in the ChatGPT apps for most of their tasks.
Some ChatGPT on Mac OS users can now open third-party applications directly from the app. ChatGPT Plus and Teams subscribers — with ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu users following soon after — can access VS Code, Xcode, Terminal and iTerm2 from a dropdown.
This kind of integration calls to mind GitHub Copilot’s integration with coding platforms announced in October.
Alexander Embiricos, product lead with the ChatGPT desktop team, said one of the biggest user behaviors the company saw was copy-pasting text or code generation with ChatGPT to other applications. Embiricos was the CEO of Multi, a screen sharing and collaboration startup acquired by OpenAI in June.
“We wanted to start integration with [integrated development environments] IDEs because we know a lot of our customers are developers, as we were seeing a lot of copy-pasting text-based material from the app to other platforms,” Embiricos said.
He added that OpenAI wanted to focus on privacy while building the integrations, so the third-party apps would only open manually.
Users can begin coding with ChatGPT and choose VS Code from the app. Once launched, VS Code will open with the same code that they were working on. Embiricos said theoretically, people can have multiple third-party apps open while using ChatGPT on Mac.
Right now, third-party app integration is only available on Mac OS, but Embiricos said PC users will also get the feature eventually. OpenAI also plans to expand the number of apps in the future.
Windows PC is not left behind
The Windows PC version of the ChatGPT desktop app will now be available for download to all ChatGPT users, following the limited release to subscribers. Along with expanding the user base, OpenAI updated the PC app with access to Advanced Voice Mode and screenshot capabilities.
Embiricos said customers have asked them to use Advanced Voice Mode on desktop for a while, so they wanted to focus on the feature for the PC app. The screenshot capability will also take advantage of some specific features in Windows machines, which will let users choose whi …