Sam Altman says he wants to make the App Store as we know it obsolete

Sam Altman has once again made it clear that ChatGPT is meant to be far more than a simple question-and-answer tool. 

The OpenAI CEO believes that the AI chatbot could eventually change how people use their smartphones, and even make today’s app-based experience outdated.

The tech giant recently introduced new features that allow ChatGPT users to complete everyday tasks directly inside the chatbot. 

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the new app-like features feel experimental. While some services work smoothly, others struggle with basic commands, and errors remain common.

Altman has openly said that Apple, not Google, is OpenAI’s biggest competitor. He has also revealed plans to work with former Apple design chief Jony Ive on new hardware products. One long-term goal, Altman suggested, is to create a device that could eventually replace the iPhone.

He noted that ChatGPT’s ambitions are clear: evolve into an AI-driven platform that could one day challenge the App Store itself.

That vision puts OpenAI on a potential collision course with Apple, whose business heavily depends on its tightly controlled App Store ecosystem.

The idea is to reduce the need to jump between applications and instead rely on a single AI-powered interface.

This shift could signal a major change in how people interact with technology. Rather than tapping icons and navigating menus, users could simply tell an AI assistant what they want done.