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Connect with ChatGPT

ChatGPT supports MCP servers as first-class connectors. You can add any public Alien Intelligence MCP endpoint directly from the ChatGPT interface -- no platform dashboard or cluster deployment required. If you run your own data cluster, you can also connect its platform-managed MCP server the same way.

For general MCP concepts and available tools, see AI Agent Integration. For worked prompt/response examples, see Connector Examples.

Prerequisites​

  • A ChatGPT Plus, Team, or Enterprise account (MCP apps require a paid plan).
  • An Alien Intelligence account for OAuth authentication when the MCP server prompts for login.
  • For public connectors (e.g. OpenAIRE): only the MCP server URL is needed -- no cluster deployment on your side.
  • For platform-managed connectors on your own data cluster: a deployed MCP server (see Deploy MCP) and the server URL from your dashboard.

Connect via ChatGPT​

ChatGPT offers two complementary systems for extending its capabilities: Apps and GPTs. Both are covered below.

Adding an MCP App (Developer Mode)​

An MCP App is a global connector that makes MCP tools available across all your ChatGPT conversations.

  1. Open chatgpt.com.
  2. Click the Settings gear icon (top-right corner), or go directly to chatgpt.com/#settings/Connectors.
  3. Navigate to Apps in the settings sidebar.
  4. Click Create app next to "Advanced settings".
  5. The New App (BETA) dialog appears with the following fields:
    • Icon (optional) -- PNG only, minimum 128x128 px, max 10 KB.
    • Name -- a short identifier, e.g. openaire-alpha.
    • Description (optional) -- e.g. "OpenAIRE Research Graph - 600M+ research products".
    • MCP Server URL -- the full endpoint, e.g. https://openaire.mcp.alpha.alien.club/mcp.
    • Authentication -- dropdown offering OAuth (default), No Auth, or Mixed.
    • Advanced settings -- expands automatically after you enter a valid URL, showing the discovered OAuth configuration from the server's /.well-known/oauth-authorization-server.
  6. Check the risk acknowledgment checkbox: "I understand and want to continue".
  7. Click Create.
  8. ChatGPT redirects you to the OAuth provider (Alien Auth / Authentik). Log in with your Alien Intelligence credentials.
  9. After authentication you land back on the App details page, which shows:
    • Connection status with a "Disconnect" button.
    • Preferences -- a "Reference memories and chats" toggle that controls whether ChatGPT shares conversation context with the MCP app.
    • Information -- connected date, URL, authorization supported/used (OAuth).
    • Developer mode label -- the app is private to you until submitted to the Apps Directory.
    • Actions -- a list of every discovered tool, each showing annotation badges (e.g. READ, OPEN WORLD) and a per-tool Visibility dropdown.

Your MCP tools are now available in every new conversation.

Creating a Custom GPT with Knowledge​

MCP Not Yet Supported in Custom GPTs

Custom GPTs do not currently have access to MCP App tools. A GPT can use its own OpenAPI-based actions, knowledge files, and capabilities — but it cannot invoke tools from your connected MCP Apps. We are actively exploring ways to bridge this gap, potentially by exposing connector functionality through an OpenAPI specification. This section will be updated when GPT-to-MCP integration becomes available.

A GPT is a custom persona with its own instructions, knowledge files, and capabilities.

  1. Navigate to chatgpt.com/gpts/editor (or open the sidebar, click GPTs, then Create).
  2. The GPT editor has two tabs -- Create and Configure. Switch to Configure for full control.
  3. Fill in the fields:
    • Name -- e.g. "Research Assistant - OpenAIRE".
    • Description -- a short summary shown in the GPT card.
    • Instructions -- the system prompt that shapes the GPT's behaviour.
    • Conversation starters -- suggested opening prompts for users.
  4. Under Knowledge, click Upload files to attach .md, .pdf, or other reference documents the GPT can draw on.
  5. Under Capabilities, toggle the features you want: Web Search, Canvas, Image Generation, Code Interpreter.
  6. Under Actions, click "Create new action" to add OpenAPI-based actions (separate from MCP apps).
  7. Click Create (top-right). A Share GPT dialog appears with visibility options:
    • Only me -- private.
    • Anyone with the link -- unlisted but shareable.
    • GPT Store -- publicly discoverable.
  8. Select your preferred visibility and click Save.

What You See After Connecting​

Once an MCP App is active, ChatGPT displays tool calls inline during a conversation. Each tool call shows:

  • The tool name (e.g. datacluster_keyword_search).
  • Annotation badges rendered as visual labels -- READ, OPEN WORLD, etc. ChatGPT provides the most transparent display of MCP tool annotations of any platform.
  • The input parameters sent to the tool and the returned result.

You do not need to name the connector explicitly. Describe what you want in natural language and ChatGPT selects the right tools.

Notes on ChatGPT's Two-Track System​

Apps (MCP)GPTs
What it isA global MCP connectorA custom agent with persona, knowledge, and actions
ScopeAvailable across all conversationsScoped to conversations that use the GPT
Tool sourceDiscovered from the MCP serverOpenAPI actions + inherited MCP App tools
AuthOAuth / No Auth / MixedInherits from connected Apps
VisibilityPrivate (Developer Mode) until submitted to Apps DirectoryOnly me / Link / GPT Store

Key takeaways:

  • Apps are connectors; GPTs are personas. They work together -- a GPT can use tools from any MCP App you have connected.
  • Developer Mode apps are private until you submit them to the Apps Directory for review.
  • No in-app purchasing is allowed in the Apps Directory. Billing must be handled externally.
  • The "Reference memories and chats" toggle on the App details page controls whether ChatGPT sends conversation context to the MCP server. Disable it if you want strict query-only interaction.

ChatGPT Apps Directory​

Coming Soon

Publication to the ChatGPT Apps Directory is in progress. Once available, you will be able to add Alien Intelligence connectors directly from the directory without entering a URL. This section will be updated when the listing is live.

Platform-Managed MCP Servers​

If you run your own data cluster on the Alien Intelligence platform, each cluster can have a dedicated MCP server. The connection process is identical to the walkthrough above -- the only difference is the URL.

  1. In the Alien Intelligence dashboard, navigate to MCP in the left sidebar.
  2. Expand the row for your data cluster.
  3. Copy the Server URL from the connection card (e.g. https://your-cluster.mcp.alien.club/mcp).
  4. Follow the Adding an MCP App steps using this URL.

For deployment details, see Deploy MCP.

OAuth Flow​

When ChatGPT connects to an Alien Intelligence MCP server, the following OAuth flow occurs:

Key points:

  • OAuth is the primary authentication method. ChatGPT's App system uses OAuth by default. The server's well-known metadata is discovered automatically.
  • Tokens are short-lived. ChatGPT handles token refresh automatically when your access token expires.
  • Permissions follow your account. ChatGPT can only access data that your Alien Intelligence account has permission to see.

Using the Connector​

Once connected, use natural language to interact with your data. ChatGPT selects the appropriate MCP tools automatically.

Example prompts:

  • "Search my documents for papers about renewable energy storage."
  • "Read the full text of entry 12345 and summarize it."
  • "Find documents uploaded in the last month about machine learning."
  • "Show me the figures from the most relevant paper on protein folding."

ChatGPT will call tools like datacluster_keyword_search, datacluster_get_entry_content, and datacluster_get_entry_file behind the scenes.

Verify tool availability by asking: "What tools do you have access to from my connected apps?" ChatGPT should list the available datacluster_* tools along with their annotation badges.

Troubleshooting​

MCP App Does Not Appear After Creation​

  • Ensure you have a ChatGPT Plus, Team, or Enterprise account. Free accounts do not have access to the Apps feature.
  • Confirm the MCP Server URL is correct and includes the /mcp path suffix.
  • Check that the MCP server is running by hitting its health endpoint: https://your-cluster.mcp.alien.club/health.

OAuth Login Page Does Not Load​

  • Verify that the MCP server is deployed and healthy.
  • Ensure your browser allows popups from chatgpt.com.
  • Try a different browser or clear cookies if the redirect loops.

"Connection Failed" After Authentication​

  • Your data cluster may be in a non-Active state. Check the platform dashboard.
  • The MCP server may need to be redeployed. Navigate to MCP in the dashboard and check its status.
  • Wait a minute and retry -- the server may still be provisioning.

ChatGPT Does Not Use MCP Tools​

  • Open Settings > Apps and confirm the app shows as connected.
  • Check per-tool Visibility on the App details page -- tools set to hidden will not be invoked.
  • Try explicitly prompting: "Using my Alien connector, search for..."
  • If the "Reference memories and chats" toggle is off, ChatGPT may have limited context for tool selection. Try enabling it.

Token or Permission Errors​

  • "Unauthorized" -- your OAuth token may have expired. Disconnect and reconnect the app.
  • "Not found" -- the entry or dataset ID does not exist, or your account does not have access.
  • "Timeout" -- the query may be too broad. Use more specific search terms or filters.

Next Steps​