December 18, 2025 News
OpenAI Opens ChatGPT App Store to Third-Party Developers
OpenAI announced that developers can now submit apps for review and publication in ChatGPT's new app directory, often referred to as an "app store." The Apps SDK allows developers to extend ChatGPT's capabilities by integrating services like grocery ordering, presentation creation, and apartment searches directly into chat conversations. Major platforms including Expedia, Spotify, Zillow, and Canva have already announced integrations, with more apps expected to launch throughout the coming year.
Skynet Chance (+0.01%): Expanding ChatGPT's ability to take real-world actions through third-party apps marginally increases surface area for unintended consequences or misuse, though controlled through review process. The integration of action-taking capabilities represents a small step toward AI systems having broader real-world influence.
Skynet Date (+0 days): The expansion of AI systems' ability to interface with multiple services and take actions accelerates the timeline slightly by demonstrating practical deployment of agentic capabilities. However, this is a controlled commercial rollout rather than a fundamental capability breakthrough.
AGI Progress (+0.01%): This represents progress toward more capable AI systems that can interact with multiple tools and services, a key component of general intelligence. The ecosystem approach demonstrates scaling of AI utility beyond pure conversation toward multi-domain task completion.
AGI Date (+0 days): Building an app ecosystem that extends AI capabilities across domains accelerates the path to AGI by creating infrastructure for multi-tool reasoning and action. The commercial incentive structure will likely drive rapid expansion of integrated capabilities.
Former UK Chancellor George Osborne Joins OpenAI to Lead Government Partnerships Initiative
Former British finance minister George Osborne has joined OpenAI as managing director to lead OpenAI for Countries, an initiative helping governments build AI infrastructure and localize ChatGPT. He also took a more active role at Coinbase, joining a growing trend of British politicians moving to major U.S. tech companies, including Nick Clegg at Meta and Rishi Sunak advising Microsoft and Anthropic. The moves raise concerns about the revolving door between government and private tech sectors, particularly regarding regulatory influence.
Skynet Chance (+0.01%): Hiring government officials to navigate regulations could potentially weaken oversight mechanisms that constrain AI development, though the impact is modest as this primarily concerns commercial expansion rather than fundamental safety architecture. The focus on "democratic AI rails" suggests some alignment consideration.
Skynet Date (+0 days): Facilitating government partnerships and reducing regulatory friction could marginally accelerate AI deployment globally, though this represents incremental commercial expansion rather than fundamental capability advancement. The regulatory navigation focus suggests modest timeline acceleration.
AGI Progress (0%): The OpenAI for Countries initiative and Stargate project expansion represent infrastructure scaling that enables broader AI deployment, though this is organizational growth rather than technical breakthrough. The focus is on localization and partnerships rather than capability advancement toward AGI.
AGI Date (+0 days): The $500 billion Stargate infrastructure initiative and government partnership expansion could accelerate compute availability and deployment scale, potentially shortening timelines by reducing resource constraints. However, this represents infrastructure rather than algorithmic breakthroughs, suggesting modest acceleration.