Sam Altman’s company, OpenAI, has frustrated developers by phasing out plugins for GPTs (Generative Pre-trained Transformers). In an email sent just before the Christmas weekend, OpenAI asked plugin developers, who were building practical tools with ChatGPT, to transition their work to GPTs.
This move has sparked outrage among developers, with many expressing their discontent on social media platforms. Although GPTs and plugins serve the same purpose of creating useful applications for ChatGPT, there are crucial differences between the two that make developers prefer plugins.
The main disparity lies in the fact that GPTs are built with a no-code chat interface within ChatGPT, while plugins are created with code external to ChatGPT. Plugins can be compared to apps connected to ChatGPT, while GPTs resemble chatbots with specific knowledge and instructions. While GPTs are more user-friendly, plugins offer greater functionality, making them more appealing to developers.
Logan Kilpatrick, OpenAI’s Head of Developer Relations, assured developers in a tweet that plugins are not being eliminated yet. However, Kilpatrick suggested that most developers would likely transition to GPTs once the GPT Store is launched.
Since the launch of ChatGPT in March 2023, developers have already built thousands of plugins, including those from well-known companies like Expedia, Instacart, and Kayak. However, on November 6th, OpenAI removed plugins from the ChatGPT home screen, making them significantly harder to access. In an interview with Human Loop, Altman stated that ChatGPT plugins lacked product market fit. OpenAI subsequently requested the article be taken down. Now, the company is attempting to rejuvenate plugins through the introduction of the more consumer-friendly GPT Store.
The recent DevDay developer conference held by OpenAI aimed to persuade developers to build products using their platforms. However, the focus on developing GPTs with limited functionality may alienate the developer community that OpenAI relies on to create robust GPTs.
This isn’t the first time Sam Altman has drawn criticism from developers. An earlier update to ChatGPT included PDF analysis, rendering the work of many developers useless. Altman defended the decision by stating that OpenAI plans to build essential features expected of a robust platform over time. However, his explanations did not resonate with developers.
Some of the reasons for prioritizing GPTs over plugins may lie in security concerns. Wired reported that ChatGPT plugins could potentially compromise user privacy by accessing chat history, gathering personal information, and executing code on users’ machines. GPTs aim to address these security concerns, although the current limitations dampen developers’ enthusiasm for building with GPTs.
The situation with OpenAI and developers echoes the debate between Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs during Apple’s early years. Wozniak advocated for more ports, catering to computer enthusiasts who wanted to modify their setups. Conversely, Jobs believed in simpler, cleaner products with fewer ports that appealed to the general public. OpenAI’s approach seems to align with Jobs’ vision, targeting everyday users rather than developers. However, unlike Apple, OpenAI requires developers to build valuable AI applications for its success.
In conclusion, OpenAI’s decision to phase out plugins for GPTs has sparked frustration and disappointment among developers. While OpenAI aims to make AI agents more accessible to consumers through the GPT Store, this move risks alienating the developer community critical to building powerful and functional applications. The future outcome of OpenAI’s strategy remains uncertain, as developers express concern over the transition from plugins to GPTs and the potential limitations that GPTs pose.
