ChatGPT Connectors: OpenAI to Test Integrations with Google Drive & Slack

OpenAI to Introduce ChatGPT Connectors for Business Integration

OpenAI is preparing to initiate testing of a new functionality designed to enable business clients to integrate applications such as Slack and Google Drive with ChatGPT.

New Feature: ChatGPT Connectors

According to a document reviewed by TechCrunch, OpenAI intends to launch a beta program for a feature known as ChatGPT Connectors. This will permit subscribers to the ChatGPT Team plan to establish connections between their Google Drive and Slack accounts and the ChatGPT chatbot.

The chatbot will then be capable of providing answers based on data sourced from files, presentations, spreadsheets, and conversations within those connected accounts.

Future Platform Expansion

OpenAI’s plans include extending the capabilities of ChatGPT Connectors to encompass additional platforms in the future. These include Microsoft SharePoint and Box, as detailed in the document.

“This functionality will empower employees utilizing ChatGPT to readily leverage internal information, mirroring their ability to access global knowledge through web searches,” the document states.

Strengthening ChatGPT’s Role in Business

ChatGPT Connectors represents OpenAI’s latest effort to position ChatGPT as an essential component of business software ecosystems. While some organizations have voiced concerns regarding granting ChatGPT access to confidential business data, others have enthusiastically adopted the technology.

This new feature could potentially sway hesitant corporate leaders and pose a significant challenge to AI-driven enterprise search platforms, such as Glean.

Powered by GPT-4o

The beta launch of ChatGPT Connectors, available to a select group of ChatGPT Team users, is powered by a specialized version of OpenAI’s GPT-4o model. This model is designed to refine its responses utilizing “internal [company] knowledge,” as outlined in the document.

Access to this model will be granted to all users within a participating ChatGPT Team workspace through OpenAI’s ChatGPT applications.

How it Works: Indexing and Access

The customized GPT-4o model searches and “reads” internal information that may be pertinent to a given query. To facilitate this, OpenAI synchronizes an encrypted copy of company files and conversations onto ChatGPT’s servers.

“Users can access additional related information, even if it wasn’t directly used by the model, by clicking the ‘sources’ button at the bottom of each response,” the document explains. “The model will, when appropriate, directly provide a list of relevant results.”

Data Security and Permissions

To address potential customer concerns about data privacy, the document emphasizes that Slack and Google Drive permissions are “fully respected” and “continuously maintained.” This includes synchronization of Slack private channel memberships, Google Drive file permissions, and directory information.

OpenAI assures that employees will only be able to discover content through ChatGPT that they are already authorized to access within Google Drive or Slack. Administrators will also have control over which Slack channels and Google Drive files are synchronized.

However, OpenAI acknowledges that users may receive “substantially different” responses to identical ChatGPT prompts.

Technical Limitations

There are certain technical constraints regarding the data ChatGPT Connector can access.

Images within Google Drive files (including Google Docs, Google Slides, PDFs, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and plain text files) are not currently supported. Furthermore, the connector can only “read” – not analyze – data within Sheets and Excel workbooks.

The system cannot retrieve Slack DMs or group messages and will disregard messages originating from Slack bots.

Beta Program Participation

Companies interested in participating in the ChatGPT Connector beta program are requested to provide OpenAI with 100 documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and/or Slack channel conversations.

OpenAI clarifies that this data will not be used for direct training purposes but may be utilized “as input to synthetic data generation” for potential training applications.

“No data synchronized from Google Drive or Slack will be used for training,” the document confirms.

OpenAI did not respond to multiple requests for comment regarding this development.