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The OpenAI GPT Store has finally launched, but third-party creators will have to wait a bit longer to start earning from their custom GPTs. The revenue-sharing feature is expected to be implemented sometime in the first quarter of this year.
So, what is the GPT Store, and why is it important?
The GPT Store was announced in November 2023 during OpenAI’s first developer conference, DevDay, held in San Francisco. This event gathered engineers working on products and services using OpenAI’s AI models and APIs like GPT-3.5 and GPT-4. Since then, there has been a lot of anticipation around the GPT Store, with industry experts comparing its potential impact to that of the Apple App Store’s launch in 2008.
Currently, the GPT Store is quite limited compared to the initial App Store, and OpenAI’s revenue-sharing details remain unclear.
How can third-party creators make GPTs?
To grasp the concept of the GPT Store, it’s essential to understand the GPT Builder, a ChatGPT feature introduced at DevDay. Available to all ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise subscribers, the GPT Builder allows users to create customized versions of ChatGPT tailored to specific tasks like generating GIFs, prototyping products, or analyzing social media posts. Subscribers can access the GPT Builder through the “Explore” tab in their ChatGPT session.
Custom GPTs are becoming popular, with creators having already built three million custom versions of ChatGPT. The GPT Builder stands out because it doesn’t require software training to create new GPTs; all you need is an idea, an internet connection, and a subscription.
Why was the GPT Store created?
Previously, people could only use GPTs if creators shared them directly. There was no centralized location to find third-party GPTs. The GPT Store now offers a place for users to list and search for custom GPTs, with the promise of future revenue.
During DevDay, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that the GPT Store would eventually compensate creators of the most useful and popular GPTs as part of a revenue-sharing plan. This development signifies OpenAI’s transition from being an AI model provider to becoming a platform.
Hampered by delays
The GPT Store was initially supposed to launch in November but was delayed due to internal issues at OpenAI. Following a temporary leadership change, the store is now live.
Revenue-sharing details
While the GPT Store is operational, the revenue-sharing program will start sometime in Q1 2024. Initially, only U.S. creators will be eligible for payments based on user engagement with their GPTs. The specifics of how engagement will be measured and how payments will be calculated are still unclear, leaving many questions unanswered.
Will creators be able to set their own prices? It doesn’t appear so. This setup seems more akin to platforms like Spotify rather than the Apple App Store, where developers control their pricing.
Current offerings of the GPT Store
Though payment features aren’t live, the GPT Store does offer a community leaderboard of popular and trending GPTs and categories like DALL·E, writing, research, programming, education, and lifestyle. OpenAI will also highlight useful and impactful GPTs, with initial recommendations including:
– Personalized trail suggestions from AllTrails
– Academic paper insights from Consensus
– Coding help from Khan Academy’s Code Tutor
– Design tools from Canva
– Book recommendations
– Math and science tutoring from CK-12 Flexi AI tutor
These featured GPTs are mainly from established companies, highlighting the store’s potential for businesses to showcase brand-related AI tools, even if it’s not immediately profitable.
In conclusion, the GPT Builder and GPT Store present an exciting opportunity for companies to explore AI innovations with minimal barriers to entry.