OpenAI upgrades ChatGPT plugins with sidebar entries and MCP event automation

At OpenAI DevDay 2026, OpenAI announced an upgrade to ChatGPT plugin extensions. Developers can now build rich in-app experiences directly inside ChatGPT. Users can set dedicated sidebar entries for plugins, create interactive panels for working alongside conversations, or build viewers for supported file types.

OpenAI also improved how plugins are sorted and recommended in the plugin directory and during conversations, helping users find relevant plugins. Users can always choose which plugins to use and approve access one by one.

Users can now connect supported ChatGPT plugins to their own sites, letting team members log into the same app with their own permissions and connected data. OpenAI also added support for the proposed MCP event spec, allowing plugins to trigger automations when events happen in connected apps. For example, ChatGPT can watch for new tasks on a project board and, even when the user is away, read related docs and draft a plan.