OpenAI is exploring a new feature that could allow users to sign in to third-party apps using their ChatGPT accounts, signaling the company’s growing ambition to expand its footprint in the broader consumer tech ecosystem.
The company quietly published a new web page on Tuesday inviting developers to express interest in integrating the service into their apps. The move comes as ChatGPT continues its meteoric rise, now boasting roughly 600 million monthly active users, making it one of the most widely used consumer applications in the world.
By introducing a potential “Sign in with ChatGPT” feature, OpenAI appears to be positioning itself to compete with tech giants like Apple, Google, and Microsoft, whose sign-in solutions are now ubiquitous across a wide range of online services. Expanding into this space could allow OpenAI to increase user engagement across sectors such as e-commerce, social media, and personal productivity tools.
The feature has already begun limited testing. Earlier this month, OpenAI launched a preview within Codex CLI, its open-source AI tool for developers. The trial allowed users to connect their ChatGPT accounts—Free, Plus, or Pro—to their API accounts. In a promotional push, OpenAI offered API credits as incentives: $5 for Plus users and $50 for Pro users who signed in via ChatGPT.
The developer sign-up form hints at OpenAI’s wide-ranging ambitions. Companies are asked to specify the size of their user base, from small startups to platforms with more than 100 million weekly users. The form also seeks insight into how companies currently monetize AI features and whether they are existing OpenAI API customers.
CEO Sam Altman previously suggested in 2023 that a “sign in with OpenAI” feature might be on the horizon in 2024. While no formal rollout timeline has been announced, the company’s current efforts suggest that the feature is now entering a more serious development phase. It remains unclear how many companies have committed to participating or when the feature will be widely available to end users.
OpenAI did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.
As the company looks to solidify ChatGPT’s place not just as a chatbot but as a central identity across digital platforms, the “Sign in with ChatGPT” initiative could mark a significant step toward establishing OpenAI as a full-fledged consumer tech player.
