This week, OpenAI shared exciting news: apps can now function directly within ChatGPT. Users can now book travel, create playlists, and edit designs all in one place. Some think this is the future—a world where ChatGPT makes traditional app stores like Apple’s unnecessary.
While OpenAI’s app integration raises eyebrows, Apple isn’t sitting idle. It continues to work on a revamped Siri. Apple has over 1.5 billion iPhone users, compared to ChatGPT’s 800 million weekly users. If Apple succeeds, it could redefine how we interact with apps as we enter the AI era.
Imagine a future where the app icon fades away, but apps remain. This might sound strange, but it reflects our evolving relationship with technology. Today, instead of searching through Google or navigating multiple apps, users often prefer quick answers from AI. They talk to smart speakers or chatbots for anything from music recommendations to movie reviews.
AI technology has matured. Its capabilities often surpass the traditional method of opening an app, scrolling through options, and finding the right information. A study found that people are increasingly comfortable asking AI for help instead of sifting through search engine results.
However, using ChatGPT to access apps has its quirks. You need to know the exact commands to use, and early tests suggest that errors can lead to frustrating experiences, like loading indefinitely. Is this the app future, or just a temporary solution? If Apple delivers its promised improvements to Siri, users might favor it instead.
Despite Siri’s rocky reputation, Apple’s ecosystem has its advantages. Users are familiar with their apps and how to find them. Plus, Apple plans to allow users to communicate with apps through Siri, making interactions more intuitive. Imagine saying, “Show me my notes” and having your productivity app respond automatically.
While ChatGPT’s app system integrates a limited selection of apps directly, it still requires users to learn how to operate within its framework. You’d need to install an app, grant permissions, and input your credentials. Once this setup is done, things may become easier, but it won’t match the fluidity that Apple aims to achieve with Siri.
Moreover, OpenAI’s current design limits users to one app at a time, stripping away the distinct branding and experience people associate with their favorite apps. This makes switching between tools more cumbersome than necessary. Users might find the traditional app experience—where they can easily compare options—superior in certain situations.
Apple showcased new features for Siri that promise a smoother app experience. During the WWDC 2024 conference, the company revealed that developers could easily adopt AI functions without additional work, enhancing productivity tools and more.
Experts agree that the competition isn’t just about technology but also user preference and brand loyalty. The success of Siri’s upgrades depends on how well it integrates with already popular apps and functionalities people rely on daily.
As OpenAI shifts toward creating its hardware, they face skepticism. Consumers have shown mixed feelings about always-on AI devices, signaling a need for caution as they innovate. Meanwhile, Apple continues refining its AI, with reports indicating that tests integrating more functionalities are progressing well and should be ready by spring 2026.
Apple’s substantial infrastructure and existing ecosystem make it a difficult competitor for OpenAI’s ambitious plans. If they both achieve their goals, the future of apps could be more conversational and responsive. However, who will come out on top remains to be seen.
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AI,app industry,app store,Apple,artificial inteligence,OpenAI,siri
