OpenAI has launched Projects in ChatGPT, a new feature designed to help users organize files and chats into grouped folders. The functionality mirrors Google’s popular NotebookLM, offering a streamlined way to manage and centralize information. Projects debuted during OpenAI’s “12 Days of OpenAI” live stream on Friday, marking the sixth day of the event.
The feature, now available to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Teams subscribers, allows users to create folders, add related conversations, and upload documents to manage projects efficiently in one location. While Enterprise and Education users will have to wait until January, OpenAI has committed to expanding access across all user tiers in the future. Projects can currently be accessed on the ChatGPT website and the Windows desktop app, with mobile and MacOS users limited to viewing capabilities.
Enhanced Functionality for Organization
Projects aims to make ChatGPT a more integrated workspace. Users can create projects through the sidebar by clicking a “Plus” icon, naming the project, and customizing its appearance. The tool allows for custom instructions to tailor responses for specific tasks. For instance, a project manager creating a website can instruct ChatGPT to prioritize using Canvas for coding while referencing related uploaded documents and previous chats as data sources.
Future updates will expand file type support and introduce integrations with Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. OpenAI also plans to enable model toggling through Projects, adding another layer of flexibility.
Comparisons to Google’s NotebookLM
While Projects resembles Google’s NotebookLM in purpose, key differences set the two apart. NotebookLM, which is geared more toward research, includes features like Audio Overview for podcast narration—a functionality absent from ChatGPT’s Projects. However, ChatGPT’s Projects integrates seamlessly with other ChatGPT features, including Voice Mode, web search, and Canvas, providing a unified workspace.
Google’s NotebookLM has gained popularity among businesses for its ability to organize information and manage CRM-like tasks. OpenAI appears to be taking note, aiming to make ChatGPT Projects a versatile tool for broader applications.
OpenAI’s Vision for a Unified Platform
The launch of Projects underscores OpenAI’s strategy to centralize capabilities within the ChatGPT platform. Features like Canvas, introduced in October and expanded this week, allow users to edit text or code without needing external tools. Competitors like Anthropic’s Claude offer similar functionality, but Projects in ChatGPT focuses on keeping users within a single platform for all their work needs.
Unlike Google’s approach with NotebookLM—a separate app from its Gemini chatbot and coding tools—OpenAI’s unified platform vision demonstrates its intent to consolidate productivity tools, making it easier for users to manage their projects and tasks in one place.
Featured image courtesy of OpenAI
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