GPTs, Apps, Plugins, and Connected Workflows
Lesson 1: GPTs, Skills, Apps, and Plugins — The Modern Capability Map
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
- Explain the difference between a GPT, skill, app, and plugin
- Identify where instructions, knowledge, data access, and actions reside
- Evaluate capability claims without assuming trust
- Choose the smallest capability set needed
Lesson Content
A GPT is a configured ChatGPT experience with instructions, optional knowledge, and enabled capabilities. A skill packages a reusable workflow or specialized operating procedure. An app connects ChatGPT to external information or actions. A plugin can bundle skills, apps, and templates into a discoverable workflow package. Product terminology evolves, so learners should verify the current interface rather than memorizing menu labels.
The key question is not “Which name is newest?†It is “What authority does this capability have?†Instructions influence behavior. Knowledge files supply reference material. Apps may retrieve external data or take actions. A plugin may make several capabilities available together. Each layer introduces its own update, privacy, and permission risks.
Before enabling anything, inspect the publisher, requested access, data scope, action scope, update history, and whether a read-only alternative exists. Do not assume a public listing means accuracy, security, or suitability has been independently certified.
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