How to Use ChatGPT to Create an App: Step-by-step Guide

OpenAI, the world-leading AI lab behind ChatGPT, recently launched GPTs, a solution that enables users to create their own AI-driven apps.

Expanding ChatGPT’s capabilities far beyond AI writing software, ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise users can share their custom GPTs via the GPT Store, OpenAI’s equivalent of the App Store.

The GPT Store will also be releasing additional revenue-sharing opportunities in the first quarter of 2024, giving developers the opportunity to make money from the apps they’ve created.

“In Q1 we will launch a GPT builder revenue program. As a first step, US builders will be paid based on user engagement with their GPTs. We’ll provide details on the criteria for payments as we get closer,” OpenAI stated.

Do you have an exciting idea for a chatbot that you’d like to bring to life with the GPT Store?

In this article, we provide a step-by-step guide on how to use ChatGPT to create an app with the GPT Builder.

Key Takeaways

ChatGPT and GPT Builder give everyone the ability to create apps.
No coding knowledge is required.
Enter some basic instructions, and ChatGPT will bring your app to life.
When it’s ready, share your creation on the GPT Store.

Creating Apps with ChatGPT: No Programming Knowledge Required

One of the exciting things about GPTs is that you don’t need to know how to code to create an application.

With the GPT Builder, you can build apps in natural language – no programming skills are required.

Creating an app from scratch is pretty straightforward. Simply tell GPT Builder what you want your application to do, and it will work with you to help produce your app.

This gives non-technical users a valuable opportunity to develop innovative AI applications and earn money with them.

You can start building by following step-by-step instructions on how to use ChatGPT to create an app.

Step 1: Open The GPT Builder

First, you need to open the GPT Builder. You can do this by clicking the link to open it directly or by loading up ChatGPT on the OpenAI website, selecting the Explore GPTs option, and clicking the Create button in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

This will take you to the window where you can start building your GPT. The GPT Builder offers two main windows where you can build your app: Create and Configure.

Create Pane:

Configure Pane:

For new users, we recommend starting with the Create tab to build an app because you can do so simply by entering written instructions.

Step 2: Create and Refine Your GPT

Now it’s time to start configuring your GPT and to build your app from scratch. The first step to do this is to ask yourself what capabilities you want your custom GPT to have and what problems you want it to solve.

If you’re unsure about this, you can ask ChatGPT or the GPT Builder for help with generating ChatGPT app ideas whenever you want to create a new app.

For example, we asked GPT Builder, “Could you tell me what a custom GPT could do to help me manage my emails?”

The results were as follows:

Creating and refining a GPT. Screenshot by Tim Keary.

This was a bit too vague, so we asked GPT Builder for more ideas, and it gave us a list of 10 potential use cases to work with.

Here are the results:

This is just one example of the type of back-and-forth you can have with GPT Builder to create an idea.

You could modify this in a number of ways.

For instance, if you wanted to create a personal fitness app, you could enter a query like “Give me a list of 5 things a custom fitness GPT could do to help [INSERT TARGET AUDIENCE].”

After you’ve decided what your GPT is going to do, the solution will provide you with the opportunity to choose a name and logo. You can also upload your own logo.

Once this is done you can start refining the technical specifications of the app.

Step 3: Configure the Technical Specifications of the App

Now it’s time to start creating the technical specifications for the mobile app.

Knowing how to build an app with ChatGPT and the GPT Builder comes down to patience and taking the time to tell GPT Builder what you want your app to do.

It’s worth noting that you can see how your GPT looks on the right-hand side of the screen at any time.

For instance, to build the technical specifications for our test app, we entered the main instructions:

Create an app that recommends exercise routines to the user.
Offer recommendations on exercises for different muscle groups, including chest, back, biceps, triceps, shoulders, legs, and abs.
It should give the name of the exercises recommended (6-8), a numerical range of sets and repetitions the user can complete, and a link to a reputable resource providing more information about each exercise.

These instructions gave GPT Builder an idea of what we were looking to achieve with our app.

Then, to make the app interface more user-friendly, we decided to assign some conversation starters and prewritten prompt buttons that would allow users to view exercises for different muscle groups in a single click.

Configuring technical specifications of an app with GPT Builder. Screenshot by Tim Keary.

We decided to test our conversation starters by clicking on the new “Suggest a workout for chest” button.

Here are the results:

Testing conversation starters in a generated app. Screenshot by Tim Keary.

As you can see, the newly created Workout Wizard provided us with a basic list of exercises and repetitions we could use as part of a workout program.

Step 4: Other Options for Refining and Improving Your App

Now you know the basics about how to create an app with ChatGPT. You’ve set out the major technical specifications and may want to refine the app further.

If we want to expand on Workout Wizard’s capabilities, we can give users the option to sign up for a third-party service, such as a website or newsletter.

We can also enable users to save personalized workouts.

Depending on the type of app you’ve created, you may want to upload additional files or link relevant APIs for the GPT to interact with via the Configure tab.

How to Add Your GPT to the Store

Once you’re happy with the GPT that you’ve built, you can then share it via the GPT store.

You can do this by clicking on the Update button in the top right-hand corner of the screen, selecting the option to publish to Everyone, and selecting the Confirm button.

It’s important to note that in order to publish to everyone, you first need to verify your identity by adding your billing details or verifying ownership of a public domain name.

Created GPTs will be displayed alongside your Builder Profile.

You can edit your builder profile by clicking your user account icon on the bottom left-hand corner of the screen, selecting Settings, and then clicking on the Builder Profile option.

Here, you can personalize your profile, choosing whether or not to show your name, link domains, and opt in or out of receiving feedback emails.

The Bottom Line

OpenAI’s launch of the GPT Store has made developing AI-powered applications more accessible to developers and users than ever before.

The sheer range of use cases spans from lightweight AI assistants to specialized research assistants and planning apps that improve user productivity and provide a solid foundation for creativity and innovation.

At the same time, creating a GPT provides a valuable opportunity for organizations to promote their websites and generate new leads.

When revenue sharing is launched, it could potentially become a significant revenue stream.