ChatGPT’s New Feature is INSANE (Use Any App Inside ChatGPT)

Table of Contents

• What’s new in ChatGPT Connectors? ⚙️
• How to Connect 500+ Apps — Step-by-step 🔗
• Real-world Use Cases That Will Blow Your Mind 💥
• Detailed Examples and Workflows 🛠️
• Security, Privacy, and Compliance 🔒
• Automating with Schedules and Agent-like Workflows ⏰
• Pricing, Limitations, and Alternatives 💸
• FAQ ❓
• Final Thoughts and Next Steps 🚀
• Call to Action and Closing ✨

What’s new in ChatGPT Connectors? ⚙️

OpenAI recently expanded ChatGPT’s connectors to make ChatGPT act like a central command center for third-party apps. The main updates include:

• Advanced settings and developer mode: You can now enable developer mode in ChatGPT connectors to add unverified connectors. That opens access to hundreds of additional integrations beyond the default verified list.
• Expanded actions per connector: Connectors that previously allowed read-only operations (like searching emails) can now perform actions (for example, sending emails in Gmail, creating files/folders in Google Drive, initiating refunds in Stripe, and more).
• Custom GPT and connector support: You can use these connectors inside custom GPT instances, enabling specialized AI agents that operate on your live app data.
• Centralized activity logs and scheduling: View logs of what actions were run, who executed them, latency, and the app used. There’s also the ability to schedule recurring tasks that trigger external app actions.

This isn’t just small quality-of-life improvement; it’s an architectural shift. ChatGPT becomes a programmable control plane that can read, write, update, and automate across apps from a single conversational interface.

How to Connect 500+ Apps — Step-by-step 🔗

I’ll walk you through connecting apps to ChatGPT using rube.app, which acts as an MCP (middleware connector provider) and offers access to a huge marketplace of integrations. The instructions below are designed to be clear, actionable, and safe when followed carefully.

What you’ll need

• An account on ChatGPT (Pro or Enterprise improves reliability, but free works for many features).
• An account on rube.app (they currently offer a free tier to install connectors).
• Admin or permission access to the third-party apps you want to connect (e.g., Slack, Gmail, HubSpot).

Step-by-step setup

1. Go to rube.app and open the Marketplace. Browse the available connectors (there are 500+ apps across categories: CRM, analytics, productivity, design, payments, and more). The marketplace URL: https://rube.app/
2. Click Install Rube or the connector you want to use. You’ll be walked through creating an account and authorizing the connector to access your app.
3. Open ChatGPT and navigate to Settings > Connectors. Scroll down to Advanced settings and enable Developer Mode. This allows you to add unverified connectors (the ones created via rube.app).
4. Create a new connector inside ChatGPT: give it a name and description, then paste the MCP code or connector identifier provided by rube.app. Trust the connector when prompted and click Create.
5. Back in ChatGPT, either use the connectors pane under More or open your custom GPT that you configured to use the connector. When you send a request to the custom GPT, it will prompt you to log in to rube.app and authorize access to the apps you want.
6. Complete the OAuth flows for each app (Slack, Gmail, Google Drive, Stripe, HubSpot, etc.).
7. Test simple read-only operations first (e.g., “Do I have any unread Slack messages?”). Then grant additional permissions to perform actions (send message, create file, refund, etc.) as you grow confident.

Pro tip: When connecting apps, review permission scopes carefully. Only grant what’s necessary to accomplish your workflow and be ready to revoke access if you see unexpected activity.

Real-world Use Cases That Will Blow Your Mind 💥

Once you’ve connected multiple apps, ChatGPT becomes a powerful automation hub. Here are practical examples—some simple, some more advanced—demonstrating how this can transform daily work.

1) Email triage and action (Gmail)

• Ask ChatGPT: “Summarize my unread emails and highlight urgent ones.”
• ChatGPT reads Gmail, summarizes threads, and can even draft replies or send emails directly from the chat (if you grant send permissions).
• Use templates: “Reply to refund requests with this message and create a Stripe refund if the invoice ID is present.”

Outcome: Save hours per week by offloading triage and routine responses to ChatGPT. It becomes your inbox assistant.

2) Customer refunds and support (Gmail + Stripe)

• Workflow: Customer sends refund request via email > ChatGPT reads email and identifies a refund request > ChatGPT creates a refund in Stripe > ChatGPT replies to the customer confirming the refund—all from one chat.
• Why it matters: No switching between interfaces, faster resolution time, and fewer human errors when copying invoice IDs or customer emails.

3) Sales lead discovery and enrichment (HubSpot)

• Ask: “Show me hot leads in HubSpot with no employee count. Enrich them and send a personalized outreach email.”
• ChatGPT queries HubSpot, builds a list of leads missing company size, uses public data (or built-in enrichment connectors) to fill missing fields, and either updates HubSpot or drafts outreach messages.
• Result: A higher-quality lead list and faster outreach cadence.

4) Team updates and reporting (Google Sheets + Slack + Amplitude)

• Example: “Pull last 7 days’ active users from Amplitude, put the numbers into Google Sheets, and post the report to #analytics in Slack.”
• ChatGPT fetches the Amplitude data, creates/updates a Google Sheet, and sends a Slack message with a link to the sheet and a short summary.
• Impact: Minutes saved on reporting and clear, consistent communication across teams.

5) File management and collaboration (Google Drive)

• ChatGPT can create folders, upload or create Google Docs, add comments, share documents, and manage permissions directly from chat.
• Use-case: “Create a project folder, add a kickoff doc with meeting notes based on this conversation, and share with the product team.”

These are just a few of the hundreds of possible workflows. The real power comes when you chain multiple connectors together to create end-to-end automations triggered by simple prompts.

Detailed Examples and Workflows 🛠️

Below I’ll walk through three concrete workflows with example prompts and notes on permissions and error handling. Use these as templates and modify them to fit your environment.

Example A: Refund Automation (Email → ChatGPT → Stripe)

1. Prompt to ChatGPT: “Scan my Gmail for the past 48 hours for emails containing ‘refund’ or ‘return.’ List them and draft a reply offering a refund when appropriate.”
2. ChatGPT returns a summary of candidate emails and asks whether to proceed with refunds.
3. User confirms: “Proceed with refunds for customer emails X, Y, Z.”
4. ChatGPT uses Stripe connector to create refunds and returns a status report with refund IDs. Then ChatGPT sends confirmation emails to the customers.

Permissions: Gmail (read & send), Stripe (refund creation).

Error handling tips: If Stripe returns an error (e.g., charge not found), have ChatGPT flag the case and notify you in Slack or by email for manual review.

Example B: Lead Enrichment and Outreach (HubSpot → ChatGPT → Email)

1. Prompt: “List HubSpot contacts marked as ‘MQL’ with missing company size and recent engagement. Enrich these contacts with estimated employee counts and prepare personalized emails.”
2. ChatGPT pulls the list, queries enrichment connectors or public sources, updates HubSpot records, and drafts outreach messages tailored to company size and recent activity.
3. User reviews and issues: “Send emails to the top 5 leads in the list.”
4. ChatGPT sends the emails and logs the outreach back into HubSpot (notes, timestamps).

Permissions: HubSpot (read/write), Gmail (send) or HubSpot (send via CRM).

Example C: Weekly Analytics Digest (Amplitude → Google Drive → Slack)

1. Prompt: “Every Monday at 8 AM, pull the weekly active users, top 3 funnels, and crash reports from Amplitude; save the report to Google Drive and post the summary in #product-updates.”
2. Schedule the task inside ChatGPT’s scheduling settings and authorize required apps.
3. ChatGPT executes weekly, uploads a PDF or Google Sheet to Drive, and shares a summary in Slack with a link to the file.

Permissions: Amplitude (read/report), Google Drive (create/share), Slack (post).

Security, Privacy, and Compliance 🔒

With great power comes great responsibility. Whenever you connect third-party apps to a conversational AI, you must consider the security, compliance, and governance implications.

Key security considerations

• Encryption and data protection: According to rube.app documentation, user data is encrypted and built on secure infrastructure. Always verify the provider’s security statements and compliance certifications before granting access to sensitive apps.
• Least privilege: Grant only the minimum permissions required for each workflow. For example, give “read-only” access when drafting messages, and escalate to “send” only when necessary.
• Activity logs and audits: Use the activity logs exposed by rube.app and ChatGPT to monitor actions, see who executed them, and detect anomalies.
• Token management: Rotate API tokens and OAuth credentials periodically. Revoke access immediately if you detect suspicious behavior.
• Human-in-the-loop: For high-risk actions (financial refunds, contract changes, access grants), require a manual confirmation step before ChatGPT executes the action.

Compliance and enterprise risk

Enterprises need to assess GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, and other compliance requirements before allowing connectors to access regulated data. Work with your security and legal teams to define policies and acceptable data flows. Many connectors provide enterprise-grade controls—evaluate them carefully.

Automating with Schedules and Agent-like Workflows ⏰

One particularly game-changing feature is using ChatGPT schedules and custom GPTs to run recurring tasks that interact with third-party apps. Think of these as lightweight AI agents you can instruct in plain language.

How scheduling works

• Within ChatGPT, navigate to Settings > Schedules and create a new scheduled task.
• Define the trigger (cron-like schedule or time-based recurrence), select the custom GPT or prompt to run, and specify which connectors the agent is allowed to use.
• When a scheduled task runs, ChatGPT executes the prompt and calls the configured connectors, then logs results to the activity feed and optionally notifies you in Slack or email.

This enables things like daily analytics snapshots, nightly database cleanup, weekly outreach campaigns, and more — all controlled through conversational prompts and simple scheduling UI.

Monitoring and fail-safes

• Set up notifications for failures: Cloud provider errors, API rate limits, or permission revocations.
• Limit action scope: Prefer “dry-run” modes that show a summary of what would happen and require a confirm step for destructive actions.
• Keep an audit trail: Use the activity logs and export them periodically for compliance reviews.

Pricing, Limitations, and Alternatives 💸

rube.app currently offers a free tier for installation and basic usage, but enterprise usage or high-volume automations may require paid plans. ChatGPT itself may also have limits depending on your subscription (free, Plus, Teams, or Enterprise).

Limitations to be aware of

• Latency: Connector actions involve multiple hops (ChatGPT → rube.app MCP → third-party API), which can introduce latency. For time-sensitive operations, test responsiveness.
• Rate limits: Third-party APIs enforce rate limits. Bulk operations may require batching or throttling logic.
• Unverified connectors: Developer mode lets you add unverified connectors but increases risk. Only add trusted connectors and review code or documentation where possible.
• Error handling: Not every API response maps neatly into a user-friendly error. Build prompts and checks to detect and handle errors gracefully.

Alternatives

• Zapier / Make (Integromat): Mature no-code automation platforms with many integrations but a different UX (rule-based vs conversational).
• Custom scripts and cloud functions: More flexible and powerful for complex logic, but require coding and maintenance.
• Native APIs + ChatGPT: Build your own middleware that calls third-party APIs and the OpenAI API directly for more control.

Each approach has trade-offs: ChatGPT connectors are unmatched for conversational ease and rapid prototyping, while traditional automation tools may offer better observability and enterprise controls in some scenarios.

FAQ ❓

Is it safe to connect my apps to ChatGPT through rube.app?

rube.app states that user data is encrypted and their platform inherits security guarantees from underlying providers. However, “safe” depends on your risk tolerance and the sensitivity of the data. For sensitive apps (banking, healthcare), consult your security and legal teams before connecting. Use least-privilege access, monitor activity logs, and require manual confirmations for high-risk actions.

Do I need to be a developer to use these connectors?

No. rube.app and ChatGPT’s UI are designed for non-developers. Enabling Developer Mode in ChatGPT simply permits unverified connectors. You don’t need to write code to install or use most connectors, but some advanced workflows may benefit from scripting or custom logic.

Can ChatGPT send emails and messages on my behalf?

Yes — if you grant send permissions for your Gmail or Slack connectors. Always review the content before sending, and consider using a “draft then send” flow where ChatGPT drafts messages and waits for your confirmation.

What happens if something goes wrong (e.g., wrong refund issued)?

Activity logs record actions, which helps with audits and rollback. For critical operations, use human-in-the-loop confirmations. If an incorrect action occurs, revoke the connector, report the incident to the third-party app, and follow recovery processes (refund counter-refunds, undo updates where possible).

How do I revoke access or remove a connector?

You can revoke access from the third-party app (OAuth dashboard) and from the rube.app dashboard. In ChatGPT, remove the connector via Settings > Connectors. Rotating API tokens and revoking OAuth grants is the fastest way to block an agent.

Does this replace a full automation platform like Zapier?

Not necessarily. ChatGPT connectors are ideal for conversational control, ad-hoc workflows, and rapid prototyping. For complex, high-volume orchestrations with extensive monitoring, dedicated automations platforms might still be preferable. Many teams will use both: ChatGPT for intelligent decision-making and Zapier/Make for robust, long-running pipelines.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps 🚀

We’re at an inflection point. For the first time, a conversational AI can act as a single interface to dozens — or hundreds — of business applications, allowing non-developers to create powerful automations in plain language. If you’re willing to invest a little time in setup and governance, the productivity gains are massive.

Action plan I recommend:

1. Create an account on rube.app and browse the marketplace to familiarize yourself with what apps are available.
2. Enable Developer Mode in ChatGPT settings so you can add custom connectors.
3. Start small: connect Gmail or Slack and test read-only prompts (summaries, unread checks).
4. Gradually add action permissions (send email, post in Slack) and introduce human-in-the-loop confirmations for risky operations.
5. Set up scheduled tasks for routine reports and inspect the activity logs to ensure everything runs as expected.

Resources and links (copy/paste):

• rube.app marketplace: https://rube.app/
• AI Automation School (if you’re serious about mastering AI automation): https://www.skool.com/ai-automation-school/about
• ChatGPT settings: Open ChatGPT > Settings > Connectors > Advanced settings

Meta description

Learn how to connect 500+ apps to ChatGPT using rube.app. Step-by-step setup, security tips, and real-world automation workflows for Gmail, Slack, HubSpot, Stripe, Google Drive, and more.

Suggested tags

ChatGPT, connectors, rube.app, AI automation, Gmail automation, Slack integration, HubSpot, Stripe, Google Drive, AI agents, Rob The AI Guy, workflows, productivity

Call to Action and Closing ✨

If you’re ready to get hands-on, start by visiting rube.app and installing one connector. Experiment with a small workflow (email triage or a weekly report) and expand from there. If you want structured training, check out AI Automation School to learn how to build, secure, and monetize AI workflows. Embracing these tools now will put you ahead — and if you don’t adapt, the pace of change may leave you behind.

Let me know what workflows you want to build — I read every thoughtful comment and I’m excited to help you architect the next generation of AI-powered automations.