Glossary

ChatGPT for business, in plain English.

Last updated November 13, 2026 · By Chris Tabb, founder · Sources checked November 13, 2026

The words that keep coming up when teams move custom GPTs, roll out ChatGPT, or try to get recommended in it. Definitions follow OpenAI’s own help articles, checked November 13, 2026.

§ Terms

Custom GPT: A version of ChatGPT configured with your own instructions, knowledge files, tools, and custom actions, shareable with others. Scheduled to retire on December 11, 2026 (February 11, 2027 for FedRAMP and approved-deferral workspaces). Read more
Plugin: A reusable package for a workflow in ChatGPT that can include skills, apps, or both. OpenAI’s migration path for custom GPTs: My GPTs → Migrate to plugin. Read more
Skill: Instructions for how to do a task, such as writing in your team’s style. When a custom GPT is migrated, its instructions become a skill in the plugin.
Reference files: Files packaged with a plugin. A migrated GPT’s knowledge files are copied into the plugin’s reference files.
App (connected app): A connection from ChatGPT to another service for information or supported actions, such as Google Drive or Slack. Apps keep their own access and permission controls.
Custom action: A custom GPT’s connection to an outside API. Custom actions don’t transfer when a GPT is migrated; they are usually rebuilt on an app or a custom MCP server.
Project: A ChatGPT workspace for ongoing work that keeps related chats, files, and instructions together. OpenAI suggests it as an alternative to a custom GPT for personal ongoing work. Read more
Workspace agent: An agent on ChatGPT Business and Enterprise built for repeatable workflows, which can run on a schedule, in Slack, or from an API call, using apps, skills, files, and custom MCP servers. Read more
MCP (Model Context Protocol): A standard way to connect AI assistants to tools and data. In ChatGPT, custom MCP servers bring in systems that have no ready-made app.
Company Knowledge: A ChatGPT plugin on Business, Enterprise, and Edu that answers organization-specific questions from the sources available to you, respecting each user’s existing permissions. Read more
ChatGPT Business: OpenAI’s self-serve workspace plan for teams of 2 to 200, with Standard and Premium seats, admin controls, SSO, connectors, and workspace agents. Read more
ChatGPT Enterprise: OpenAI’s contracted plan for organizations at scale, with custom credit- or token-based pricing and controls such as SCIM, EKM, data residency, and SLAs. Read more
Businesses in ChatGPT / Business Hub: OpenAI’s beta program that lets a business claim its profile in ChatGPT and keep its details current. OpenAI says claiming does not guarantee placement. Read more
OAI-SearchBot: OpenAI’s crawler for ChatGPT search. OpenAI says sites that opt out of it are not shown in ChatGPT search answers, though they can still appear as navigational links.
GPTBot: OpenAI’s crawler for content that may be used to train its models. Blocking it is separate from appearing in ChatGPT search.

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Sources · checked November 13, 2026

OpenAI figures are OpenAI’s, quoted as published on the date checked. Appearly is not affiliated with OpenAI. ChatGPT is a trademark of OpenAI.