OpenAI is reportedly testing a new login feature that would allow users to sign into third-party apps using their ChatGPT credentials.
Highlights
- OpenAI is testing a universal login system that lets users sign into apps using their ChatGPT credentials.
- Early testing via Codex CLI connects ChatGPT accounts to OpenAI APIs for seamless dev access and authentication.
- API credits offered: $5 for Plus users and $50 for Pro users, valid for 30 days post issuance.
- Positioning ChatGPT as a digital identity layer, similar to Google, Apple, or Meta login services.
- Developer interest form live: OpenAI is courting everyone from indie developers to platforms with 100M+ users.
- Optional data sharing could unlock beta features, though some orgs (e.g. enterprise, zero-data-retention) are excluded.
- Potential for wide adoption across e-commerce, productivity, education, and gaming apps.
- Signals a bigger ecosystem play—ChatGPT as not just a chat tool, but a trusted layer of the web.
- No launch date yet, but early tests support Altman’s vision of ChatGPT as a core utility beyond text prompts.
- Watch for privacy and control features to be clarified as testing expands.
If implemented widely, this functionality—tentatively dubbed “Sign in with ChatGPT”—could represent a shift in how users interact with digital services and signal OpenAI’s intent to become a more central player in the identity and authentication space, currently dominated by providers like Google, Apple, and Meta.
Expanding Beyond Conversational AI
With ChatGPT now serving an estimated 600 million monthly active users, OpenAI appears to be positioning the platform as more than just an AI assistant.
This new feature could help establish ChatGPT as a universal digital ID, functioning as a gateway for users to access various websites, applications, and tools.
The move suggests a broader strategic ambition to embed ChatGPT more deeply into the everyday digital experiences of both consumers and developers.
Early Developer Testing Through Codex CLI
OpenAI has begun testing the feature through Codex CLI, its open-source AI-enhanced terminal interface.
This developer preview allows ChatGPT Free, Plus, and Pro users to link their accounts directly to their API usage—streamlining the authentication process and potentially simplifying future integrations across platforms.
As part of the rollout, OpenAI is offering promotional API credits:
- $5 in credits for ChatGPT Plus subscribers
- $50 in credits for ChatGPT Pro subscribers
These credits are available to accounts older than seven days with a valid payment method and expire within 30 days after being issued.
Broad Developer Engagement and Use Cases
OpenAI has also launched a developer interest form, which appears to target a wide range of app builders—from small-scale projects with fewer than 1,000 weekly users to large platforms with user bases exceeding 100 million. The form gathers insights on:
- App size and user volume
- Current use of OpenAI APIs
- Monetization strategies
- Willingness to integrate ChatGPT login functionality
This broad outreach suggests OpenAI is exploring wide-scale adoption across consumer, productivity, gaming, and enterprise applications.
Optional Data Sharing and Account Integration
As part of the onboarding process, developers have the option to share API usage data with OpenAI, though this setting is not available to certain organizations, such as:
- Enterprise customers
- Accounts with Zero Data Retention enabled
Sharing data may enable developers to access additional incentives or beta features, although full details on benefits and privacy protocols remain limited at this stage.
Current Integration Pathway: Codex CLI
The sign-in capability is currently being tested through Codex CLI, which connects developers’ ChatGPT accounts directly to their OpenAI API environments.
This creates a streamlined and unified authentication process, potentially paving the way for easier account linking in other developer tools and platforms.
Market Implications and Competitive Landscape
Although OpenAI has not formally announced a public release timeline, this feature aligns with long-term signals from CEO Sam Altman, who previously alluded to similar possibilities in 2023.
If widely adopted, “Sign in with ChatGPT” could lead to deeper integration of the AI assistant into:
- E-commerce platforms
- Social media services
- Workplace productivity tools
- Educational or creative software
What Comes Next?
While the feature is still in early testing and many implementation details remain unknown—including its privacy safeguards, user control options, and data handling policies—it signals OpenAI’s growing focus on platform infrastructure and ecosystem integration.
