Nick Turley: Making ChatGPT Your Operating System

Nick Turley, who leads the ChatGPT division at OpenAI, envisions transforming the conversational AI into a new kind of operating system, one that integrates third-party applications directly into its core experience. Since joining the company in 2022, Turley has overseen the platform’s growth to an impressive 800 million weekly active users. His current ambition involves reimagining ChatGPT not just as a tool, but as a foundational platform where users can access a wide array of apps for writing, coding, shopping, and more, all without leaving the interface.

In a recent conversation at OpenAI’s developer conference in San Francisco, Turley explained that his inspiration comes from the evolution of web browsers. Over the past decade, browsers have effectively become a form of operating system for many people, serving as the primary environment for work and applications. He sees ChatGPT following a similar trajectory, potentially changing how individuals interact with software altogether. While OpenAI is reportedly developing its own browser and collaborating with former Apple designer Jony Ive on hardware, Turley did not confirm these projects, though he acknowledged that browsers are “really interesting.”

This push to build an app-centric platform is not OpenAI’s first attempt. Previous initiatives like ChatGPT plugins and the GPT Store in 2023 failed to gain significant traction. The company believes its current strategy is more refined and compelling. By embedding apps from major services like Expedia, DoorDash, and Uber, OpenAI aims to turn ChatGPT into an e-commerce hub. This move allows the company to facilitate transactions and capture a share of the revenue, creating a substantial business opportunity for both OpenAI and its partners.

For developers, the new platform offers unprecedented access to ChatGPT’s vast user base. Instead of being tucked away in a separate store, apps become a natural part of the conversational flow, enabling more interactive and engaging experiences beyond simple chatbots. However, managing an operating system introduces complex challenges, such as app promotion and data privacy. Turley mentioned that OpenAI is considering allowing companies to pay for priority placement, but emphasized that any approach must preserve a positive user experience. He also addressed data concerns, noting that developers must collect only the minimum necessary information. OpenAI is exploring features like partitioned memory within ChatGPT, which would let users grant fine-grained data access to specific apps, keeping sensitive conversations separate.

A central theme in Turley’s vision is the role of ChatGPT in fulfilling OpenAI’s nonprofit mission to develop and distribute artificial general intelligence (AGI) for the benefit of humanity. He rejects the idea that the consumer business merely funds this mission. Instead, he sees the product itself as the “delivery vehicle” for AGI, directly helping people achieve their goals, whether it’s an 89-year-old learning to code, a parent assisting an autistic child, or someone mastering a new language. For Turley, these real-world applications represent the mission in action.

During the interview, Turley elaborated on several key points. He compared the current state of ChatGPT to the “command line era,” powerful but lacking intuitive affordances. The goal is to evolve into an OS-like environment where users can effortlessly access specialized applications. He stressed that OpenAI cannot build everything internally, making partnerships essential for offering services like music streaming, education, or travel booking. Turley is particularly excited about the new generation of apps that will emerge, similar to how mobile platforms enabled companies like Uber.

When asked about inspiration, Turley emphasized first-principles thinking, noting that there is no direct precedent for technologies like ChatGPT or Sora. He finds valuable analogies in web browsers, which have become de facto operating systems, and early laptop advertisements that highlighted versatile, yet unfamiliar, uses. He also discussed OpenAI’s broader ambitions beyond productivity, mentioning entertainment, social media, and hardware as exciting frontiers. All these products, he explained, will be unified by user accounts and personalization.

On the topic of user privacy for third-party apps, Turley outlined a commitment to transparency. Developers must disclose data requests, and apps will only be approved if their data collection is reasonable. He praised Apple’s model for granular data permissions and revealed that OpenAI is working on a partitioned memory system for ChatGPT. This would allow users to control which conversations, such as those about health or music, are shared with specific apps.

Regarding app selection, Turley said that when multiple partners exist in the same category, like DoorDash and Instacart for food delivery, ChatGPT will initially show both options. It will prioritize apps based on user history and may eventually incorporate quality metrics. On the possibility of paid placements, Turley stated that OpenAI is still exploring the idea with developers. The company wants to ensure that any monetization strategy enhances, rather than detracts from, the user experience. He acknowledged that building a fair and effective app ecosystem is a long-term endeavor, requiring ongoing dialogue with partners.

(Source: TechCrunch)