AI tools · Plugins & connectors
Can an AI assistant work inside your other apps?
Short answer
Yes. Claude has connectors, ChatGPT has plugins with connected apps, and Gemini has Connected Apps. They can read your data and take actions, with your permission.
Which products can do it?
- OpenAI ChatGPTYes
ChatGPT plugins bundle skills and connected apps such as Slack; the plugin directory is available on every plan.
Good to know: Which plugins you can use depends on plan, workspace and region.
- Anthropic ClaudeYes
Claude's connectors (built on MCP) reach apps like Slack, Linear and Google Drive, for all users.
Good to know: Claude can access and potentially change data with your permissions; only connect services you trust.
- Google GeminiYes
Gemini's Connected Apps can summarize Gmail, add calendar events, play Spotify and control Google Home devices.
Good to know: Unavailable on the web and iOS if Keep Activity is off.
Why it matters
Copying text between apps and a chatbot is slow; people want the assistant to work where their stuff is.
Not proven yet
How reliably each assistant picks the right app and action; no independent test yet.
Guide
AI plugins and connectors explained: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and MCPWhat plugins, connectors and MCP are, how each assistant handles them, and what you're giving access to when you connect an app.How we know (4 sources)
Help article (read Oct 22, 2026): connectors let Claude access apps such as Slack, Linear and Google Drive, retrieve data and take actions, for all users on web, desktop and mobile. Claude inherits each person's permissions in the connected service. Connecting grants permission to access and potentially modify data, so only connect services you trust. Team and Enterprise owners can restrict actions, such as read-only.
Read the sourceHelp article (read Oct 22, 2026): ChatGPT plugins bundle skills and connected apps (such as Slack) for a task; the plugin directory is available across plans, with availability depending on plan, workspace and region. Installing may start an authorization flow and can't bypass permissions. Some plugins are OpenAI Verified, which doesn't replace your own security review. Plugin Creator builds custom plugins.
Read the sourceHelp article (read Oct 22, 2026): with permission, Gemini can use Connected Apps to summarize Gmail, create calendar events, play music from YouTube Music or Spotify, and control Google Home devices. You connect or disconnect apps under Customize > Connectors. With Keep Activity off, Connected Apps are unavailable on the web and iOS.
Read the sourceOfficial introduction (read Oct 22, 2026): MCP is an open-source standard for connecting AI applications like Claude or ChatGPT to data sources, tools and workflows, described as "a USB-C port for AI applications". Supported by assistants including Claude and ChatGPT and by developer tools like VS Code and Cursor.
Read the source