Connect to the World: Extend ChatGPT with External Data Plugins

Calibraint

Author

January 29, 2024

Last updated: August 13, 2024

ChatGPT is a powerful and versatile AI chatbot that can generate natural and engaging conversations on various topics. ChatGPT plugin is an add-on that extends the chatbot’s capabilities by allowing it to access up-to-date information, run computations, or use third-party services. Plugins can enhance the user experience and enable new use cases for chatbots.

In this article, we will show you a step-by-step guide on how to develop a ChatGPT plugin with examples. 

What is a ChatGPT Plugin?

A ChatGPT plugin is a tool that helps ChatGPT access external APIs defined by developers, such as Google Maps, Wolfram Alpha, Shopify, Slack, etc. A plugin exposes one or more API endpoints, accompanied by a standardized manifest file and an OpenAPI specification. These define the plugin’s functionality, allowing ChatGPT to consume the files and make calls to the developer-defined APIs.

The AI model acts as an intelligent API caller. Given an API spec and a natural-language description of when to use the API, the model proactively calls the API to perform actions. For instance, if a user asks “Where should I stay in Paris for a couple nights?”, the model may choose to call a hotel reservation plugin API, receive the API response, and generate a user-facing answer combining the API data and its natural language capabilities.

Plugins enable ChatGPT to do things like:

• Retrieve real-time information such as sports scores, stock prices, the latest news, etc.
• Retrieve knowledge-based information like company docs, personal notes, etc.
• Assist users with actions; e.g., booking a flight, ordering food, etc. 

How to Develop a ChatGPT Plugin?

To develop a ChatGPT plugin, you need to follow these steps:

Join the Waitlist

• Access to plugin development is currently limited.
• Join the waitlist at https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt-plugins to express interest and receive updates. 

Define Your Plugin’s Purpose and Functionality

Start with a clear vision:

What problem does your plugin solve? What value does it add to ChatGPT users?

Identify the core functionality:

What specific tasks will your plugin perform? Will it access external data, run calculations, or generate creative content?

Outline the user experience:

How will users interact with your plugin within ChatGPT? Will it be triggered by keywords, buttons, or specific prompts?

Choose Your Development Platform

OpenAI Plugin System:

This is the official platform for building ChatGPT plugins. It offers a secure environment, well-documented APIs, and access to a growing community of developers.

Alternative Platforms:

Depending on your plugin’s needs, you might consider using other platforms like Replit or Flask to build and host your API.

Build Your Plugin as an API

Develop the backend logic:

Write code that implements your plugin’s functionality. This could involve connecting to external APIs, processing data, or generating creative text formats.

Design the API endpoints:

Define how ChatGPT will interact with your plugin. This involves specifying the URLs, request parameters, and response formats.

Choose a programming language:

Python is the recommended language for ChatGPT plugins, but other languages like JavaScript or Java might be suitable depending on your needs.

Create the Plugin Manifest File

• This file provides metadata about your plugin, such as its name, description, author, and supported features.
• The OpenAI Plugin System has specific requirements for the manifest file format. Refer to their documentation for details.

Develop the OpenAPI Specification

• This document describes your plugin’s API in a standardized format. Tools like Swagger can help you generate the OpenAPI spec from your code.
• The OpenAPI spec allows ChatGPT to understand your plugin’s capabilities and integrate it seamlessly into its interface.

Connect Your Plugin to ChatGPT

• Once your plugin is deployed and publicly accessible, you can register it with the OpenAI Plugin System. 
• This involves providing the plugin’s manifest URL and OpenAPI spec.

Testing and Deployment

Thoroughly test your plugin:

Make sure it functions as expected and integrates smoothly with ChatGPT.

Deploy your plugin:

Depending on your chosen platform, you might need to host your plugin on a publicly accessible server.

Examples of ChatGPT Plugins

There are many examples of ChatGPT plugins available online that demonstrate different use cases and functionalities of plugins. Here are some of them:

Expedia:

This plugin allows users to search for flights, stays, and rental cars from Expedia.com using natural language queries. For example: “I want to fly from New York to London next week.”

FiscalNote:

This plugin provides users with access to select market-leading, real-time data sets for legal, political, and regulatory data and information. You can ask it questions such as – What is the current status of SOPA?

Instacart:

This plugin enables users to order groceries from their favorite local stores using natural language commands such as order milk, eggs, bread, and cheese.

How Calibraint Can Help You Build a ChatGPT Plugin

Whether you want to integrate your existing APIs, create new ones, or use third-party services, Calibraint can help you design, develop, test, and deploy your ChatGPT plugin with ease and efficiency. We can also provide you with ongoing support and maintenance for your ChatGPT plugin, ensuring that it is always up-to-date and functioning properly. We can also help you optimize your ChatGPT plugin’s performance, usability, and user satisfaction.

Conclusion

ChatGPT plugins are powerful tools that can enhance the chatbot’s capabilities and user experience. By developing a ChatGPT plugin, you can enable your chatbot to access external APIs, retrieve information, perform actions, and use third-party services. Calibraint will help you turn your chatbot into a smart and versatile assistant that can do more than just chat. 

If you are interested in building a ChatGPT plugin for your business, contact Calibraint today and get a free quote.

Calibraint

Author

January 29, 2024

Last updated: August 13, 2024