The Building a ChatGPT Plugin for Medium article published on Medium Engineering provides a technical exploration of the capabilities and proof of concept of ChatGPT plugins. OpenAI has recently introduced plugins for ChatGPT to enable access to up-to-date content on the internet. ChatGPT had been trained on a 2021 dataset and had limited access to the internet, however, plugins can solve this problem by allowing platforms such as Medium to expose their content to ChatGPT. The user prompt and installed plugins enable ChatGPT to trigger the correct API to retrieve a piece of content. Chat GPT plugin support is currently in private alpha, with access granted to Medium to explore the possibilities of making their content retrievable by ChatGPT. The article explains how to build a ChatGPT plugin with a well-known/ai-plugin.json file, which provides necessary information so that ChatGPT can understand that your domain supports plugins and link the appropriate description, icons, and links to the end-users when installing the plugin. The OpenAPI YAML file exposes the schema that allows ChatGPT to understand the API, and the Go language can be used to write the MediumGPT service that converts hardcoded GraphQL queries into REST APIs. The article focuses on the technical side of building a ChatGPT plugin and demonstrates how it works.
Pros And Cons Of MediumGPT
Pros
Supports plugins
Accesses up-to-date content
Triggers correct API for content
Alpha access
Capable of complex queries
Ability to chain queries
Supports Go language
Solves lack of internet access
Understands API surface
Enables browsing and manipulation
Ability to expose APIs
OpenAPI YAML for schema
Handles both authenticated and non-authenticated users
Proof of concept available
Supports platform specific plugins
Allows content exposure to ChatGPT
Can convert GraphQL queries into REST APIs
Supports OpenAPI specification
Content retrieval from Medium
Individual post content retrieval
Allows searching posts with specific query
Provides descriptions of schema objects
Ensures context-aware responses
Plugin debugging through ChatGPT interface
Supports middleware service creation
Understands complex descriptions
Enables natural query language
Allows adjustment to API description
Allows debugging directly on ChatGPT
Provides real-time debugging feedback
Recognizes trending posts
Searches posts using specific queries
Fetches post content
Retrieves relevant post summaries
Offers browsing and manipulation for Medium content
Allows detailed technical exploration
Allows complex and useful queries
Handles plugins in private alpha
Retrieves related posts to a topic
Allows technical demonstrations
Enables automated response generation
Supports chained API calls
Responsive to user prompts
Capable of query manipulations
Supports automated content retrieval
Allows post condition querying (e.g.
paywall status)
Provides results as simple
clear JSON results
Cons
In private alpha
Requires domain support
Dependent on well-documented schemas
Limited plugin support
API access depends on user prompts
Content retrieval issues
Cannot directly talk to GraphQL API
Limited service languages (Go)
API chaining complexity
Potential confusion with multiple plugins
Pricing Of MediumGPT
Free + from $4/mo
FQA From MediumGPT
What is MediumGPT?
MediumGPT is a ChatGPT plugin designed for the Medium platform. It's a feature created by OpenAI that allows Medium to expose its content to ChatGPT, effectively making Medium content retrievable by the artificial intelligence system.
What is the purpose of the ChatGPT plugin for Medium?
The purpose of the ChatGPT plugin for Medium is to enable more dynamic interactions between users and the Medium content. It aids in solving a significant issue of ChatGPT, which is the AI's limited access to the internet and the inability to access up-to-date content. Through the ChatGPT plugin, Medium can expose its content to ChatGPT, which can then retrieve relevant content based on user prompts and installed plugins.
How does the ChatGPT plugin for Medium work?
The ChatGPT plugin for Medium works by creating an interface between the Medium's data and the ChatGPT model. MediumGPT service, written in the Go language, interfaces with Medium's GraphQL API and exposes parts of it as a REST API in a format that ChatGPT can understand. ChatGPT uses an OpenAPI YAML file to interact with the API and understand the available services, triggering appropriate requests based on user prompts.
What problems does the ChatGPT plugin solve for Medium?
The ChatGPT plugin for Medium solves one of ChatGPT's significant issues – its lack of direct internet access and up-to-date content. Before the introduction of plugins, ChatGPT was trained on a dataset from 2021, and didn't have access to the internet. With the plugin, Medium can expose its content to ChatGPT, ensuring the content retrieved is current and relevant.
What is the current status of the ChatGPT plugin development?
The ChatGPT plugin development is currently in the private alpha stage. Medium has been granted access to explore the possibilities of making their content retrievable by ChatGPT.
How do I build a ChatGPT plugin?
Building a ChatGPT plugin involves creating an ai-plugin.json file on your domain. This file provides necessary information so that ChatGPT can identify the domain's plugin support. It links appropriate descriptions, icons, and links to the user when they are installing the plugin. A key element is the OpenAPI YAML file that exposes the schema allowing ChatGPT to understand the API.
What is the use of the ai-plugin.json file in the ChatGPT plugin?
The ai-plugin.json file in the ChatGPT plugin provides necessary information so that ChatGPT can recognize that your domain supports plugins. It links the suitable description, icons, and links to end-users when they install the plugin. It is pivotal in helping ChatGPT understand your API services and to interact with them accordingly.
What programming languages can be used to write MediumGPT services?
The MediumGPT service that converts hardcoded GraphQL queries into REST APIs can be written using the Go programming language.
What kind of content does the ChatGPT plugin for Medium retrieve?
The ChatGPT plugin for Medium retrieves a specific set of content based on the user prompt and installed plugins. The content includes trending articles, specific post content (if not behind a paywall), trending posts within a particular topic, and search results from a specific query.
How does the ChatGPT plugin improve content access?
The ChatGPT plugin enhances content access by enabling ChatGPT to directly trigger Medium's API and retrieve relevant content based on user prompts and installed plugins. Thanks to this plugin, even though ChatGPT lacks direct internet access, ChatGPT can fetch necessary data from Medium and manipulate it to respond to user queries.
Can the ChatGPT plugin convert GraphQL queries into APIs?
Yes, the MediumGPT service, which is a crucial part of the ChatGPT plugin, can convert hardcoded GraphQL queries into REST APIs.
What does the OpenAPI YAML file do in the ChatGPT plugin?
The role of the OpenAPI YAML file in the ChatGPT plugin is to expose the schema that allows ChatGPT to understand the API. This specification file defines how to interact with the API and what services are available.
In what format does the MediumGPT service deliver content?
MediumGPT service delivers content in the form of JSON responses. These JSON responses are generated from GraphQL queries that are translated into REST API calls.
What is the private alpha status of the ChatGPT plugin?
The ChatGPT plugin's private alpha status indicates that the plugin's development and testing are in the initial stages, restricted to a select group of users or developers. In this case, Medium has early access to the plugin for exploration, testing and feedback.
What capabilities does the ChatGPT plugin have?
The ChatGPT plugin for Medium has the capability to retrieve relevant content from Medium based on user prompts and the presence of specific plugins. It can fetch trending articles, get full contents of specific posts that aren't behind a paywall, fetch trending posts within a topic, and search posts using specified criteria.
How does the ChatGPT plugin interact with up-to-date content on the internet?
Thanks to plugins, ChatGPT can interact with up-to-date content on the internet. While usually ChatGPT's extensive training data goes up until 2021 and it lacks direct internet access, the plugin enables platforms like Medium to expose their latest content to ChatGPT, making it accessible and browseable by the AI.
What is the role of the user prompt and installed plugins in the functionality of the ChatGPT plugin?
The functionality of the ChatGPT plugin is controlled by the user prompt and installed plugins. When a user issues a command or asks a question, it prompts ChatGPT to trigger the correct API plugin to retrieve a piece of content. If the Medium plugin is installed, it allows ChatGPT to access Medium's data to answer user queries.
Can the ChatGPT plugin be installed on any domain?
Technically, a ChatGPT plugin could be installed on any domain, as long as the necessary ai-plugin.json file and an OpenAPI YAML file are exposed on the domain. The need, however, would depend on the domain's compatibility with the requirements of the ChatGPT model and the specific user need.
What is the impact of the ChatGPT plugin on end-users?
The ChatGPT plugin can enrich the user experience on the Medium platform. It allows users to request content from Medium directly through the ChatGPT interface, increasing the ease of access to the desired information. Moreover, the plugin's integration allows for more dynamic and intelligent interactions based on user prompts.
Why is the technical exploration and proof of concept of the ChatGPT plugin important?
The technical exploration and proof of concept of the ChatGPT plugin is important for a couple of reasons. First, it showcases the potential of the plugin technology and how it can solve the problem of internet access for ChatGPT. Second, by demonstrating how to build a ChatGPT plugin, OpenAI is encouraging other developers and platforms to consider developing their plugins, thereby expanding the capabilities of ChatGPT.
