OpenAI announced the launch of a form on Tuesday aimed at collecting feedback from third-party application developers regarding their interest in allowing users to sign in using ChatGPT accounts. If this initiative is executed, the San Francisco-based AI company would position itself as an identity provider (IDP) for various apps, enabling them to utilize Open Authorization (OAuth) through ChatGPT accounts. This feature has already been integrated into OpenAI’s newly released Codex CLI platform.
OpenAI Moves Towards IDP Services for Third-Party Apps
The interest form is accessible on OpenAI’s website. It requests information about the developers and their applications, including the app’s AI monetization strategy, number of weekly active users, and whether they currently employ OpenAI’s API for AI functionalities.
As previously noted, OpenAI has launched a similar feature called “Sign in to Codex CLI with ChatGPT,” allowing terminal users to access the platform using their existing ChatGPT accounts. This feature shares the user’s name, email, and profile picture with the platform but does not disclose chat history.
In a post last year on X (formerly known as Twitter), OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that the request for an OAuth feature had been made by users, and the company was in the process of developing this capability. Should OpenAI proceed with offering this service, it would align itself alongside established identity providers such as Google, Apple ID, Microsoft Azure Active Directory, and Facebook.
This initiative could provide OpenAI with multiple strategic advantages. By enabling user logins to other applications through ChatGPT accounts, the company would gain insights into user interactions with various apps and services. This exposure could allow OpenAI to enhance the personalization of ChatGPT and refine user experiences.
Moreover, the integration of ChatGPT into developers’ applications, either as a sidebar feature similar to Copilot and Gemini or via API, would likely encourage users to remain engaged within the OpenAI ecosystem.
Additionally, OpenAI could solidify its reputation as a secure and reliable identity layer for AI-focused applications, enhancing its brand identity as a platform provider. If users consistently log into other services with ChatGPT, it is expected to improve retention rates and user engagement for the company.
However, the initiative is still in its early stages, and it remains to be seen when OpenAI will formally launch its OAuth service for third-party applications and how this will contribute to the company’s larger strategic vision.
