Microsoft to retire GPT Builder feature

Microsoft has announced the retirement of its GPT Builder feature in Copilot Pro.

Starting July 10, 2024, Microsoft will remove the ability to create new GPTs, and from July 10 through July 14, 2024, all existing GPTs—both those created by Microsoft and customers—will be deleted, along with their associated data.

Launched three months ago in mid-March, Copilot’s GPT Builder operated similarly to OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus GPT Builder. Both tools allow users to create custom GPT chatbots for personal use or sharing without the need for coding skills or knowledge, as the tool guides the user through the process. The difference is that the ChatGPT Plus GPT Builder enables users to use their GPTs privately, share them with specific people, or publish them to the GPT store. In contrast, Copilot Pro’s GPT Builder allows users to use their GPTs only privately or share them with specific individuals.

Microsoft shared that they are continuing to evaluate their strategy for consumer Copilot extensibility and are prioritizing core product experiences while remaining committed to developer opportunities. “To this end, we are shifting our focus on GPTs to Commercial and Enterprise scenarios and are stopping GPT efforts in consumer Copilot.”

Bottom Line: One opinion is that the “AI revolution” may not transform industries as expected but rather lead to incremental enhancements within existing tech ecosystems.