For years, we’ve been juggling apps like crazy. Want to book a flight? You open Expedia. Need a quick social graphic? You fire up Canva or Figma. Want a workout playlist? You dive into Spotify. Every task lives in its own tiny box, and you’re constantly switching, copying links, and trying not to lose your place.
That app-hopping era is starting to fade. A huge shift is underway: your favorite chat tool is turning into a central hub where apps come to you, instead of the other way around. It could make that familiar grid of icons feel as outdated as a flip phone.
The New Way to Use Apps
Instead of downloading and opening separate apps, you’ll soon be able to call services directly inside a single chat. Just type something like:
“Expedia, find me a cozy hotel in Paris next month.”
Or the system might even suggest an app automatically when it senses what you need. Talking about a new design idea? It could offer to open Figma right there.
The first time you use a service, you’ll get a quick permission popup — you decide what data gets shared. Suddenly, apps aren’t fighting for space on your home screen. They’re competing to be the most useful tool at the exact moment you need them. This is a clear move from the attention economy to the utility economy, where being genuinely helpful wins.
Planning Trips Without the Tab Chaos
Travel planning is usually a mess of tabs: flights on one site, hotels on another, maps somewhere else. With the new integrations, that chaos disappears.
Imagine typing:
“Expedia, show me flights to Hawaii and hotels under $300 a night for the first week of December.”
Instead of blue links, you get real, bookable results — live prices, photos, even interactive maps – right inside your chat. Want to tweak it? Just say, “Something more family-friendly,” or “Which one’s closest to the beach?”
Booking.com is also leaning in with what it calls an “agentic first journey.” It’s designed to guide you toward the perfect stay, whether it’s a romantic escape or a family adventure. You might still complete the final booking on their site, but the long, painful research phase now happens in one smooth, conversational flow.
Instant Creative Workflows for Designers & Marketers
This isn’t just about vacations. Creative teams are about to get a speed boost.
Think about your last brainstorming session – sticky notes, whiteboards, and someone stuck converting the chaos into a digital format. Now, you can simply say:
“Figma, turn this sketch into a usable interface diagram.”
It can suggest layouts, help you iterate on design ideas, and let your team collaborate – all without leaving the chat. The gap between idea and execution shrinks dramatically.
For companies like Figma, getting built directly into a platform used by millions every day is a game-changer. It turns chat into the new operating system for knowledge work.
Other Apps Already Joining the Party
- Canva – Ask it to make a social post, presentation, or poster. See a full-screen preview, then say things like “make the text bigger” before you download.
- Spotify – Request playlists for any mood or activity: “Spotify, make a 90s hip-hop workout mix.” Premium users can even get hyper-personalized lists.
- Zillow – House hunting goes conversational: “Zillow, show me three-bedroom homes in Austin with a backyard.”You’ll see live listings, photos, and maps. Zillow has also added safeguards to prevent discriminatory searches.
- Coursera – Chatting about a topic? The system might instantly suggest a course so you can dive deeper without searching.
⚠️ Availability in the EU (and Why a VPN Helps)
Right now, these chat-based app integrations are rolling out mainly in the U.S. and a few other regions. If you’re in the EU, you might not have access yet – some features are geo-restricted while the rollout expands.
💡 Pro tip: You can use a reliable VPN to appear in a supported region (like the U.S.) and try the features right now. Top-rated options include:
- NordVPN – blazing speeds & servers in 126+ countries
- Surfshark – unlimited devices & strong streaming performance
- ExpressVPN – ultra-fast, rock-solid privacy for travelers
- CyberGhost – beginner-friendly, with optimized servers
- PIA (Private Internet Access) – affordable with advanced features
- Proton VPN – transparency & privacy from Switzerland
- IPVanish – solid speeds and easy setup
Why This Change Matters
This is more than a flashy upgrade – it challenges the last 15 years of how we use the internet. The era of app stores and constant downloading is giving way to conversational computing, where you simply state your intent and the right tool appears.
But remember: when you connect a third-party app, you’re under its privacy policy, not just your chat platform’s. Always review permissions and be mindful of what you share – just like you would with any app from an app store.
The Future Is Already Here
We’re only at the start. The experience will get smoother, more apps will join, and the line between chatting and doingwill keep fading. Tech will feel less like a collection of tools to manage and more like a helpful partner that understands what you want to accomplish.
So… what’s the first thing you’ll ask your new chat-powered assistant to do?
