OpenAI's Max Stoiber explains why custom MCP servers sit behind developer mode
OpenAI's Max Stoiber says custom MCP servers were always available but hidden behind a developer mode toggle, because most of ChatGPT's 1.2B weekly users are non-technical and unreviewed servers carry too much risk.
it's actually the opposite! we've always aimed to be the open ecosystem. we want to create a level playing ground for everybody, and for everybody to able to integrate into ChatGPT. custom MCP servers are just particularly tricky. we have 1.2B+ WAU, the majority of whom are not technical at all. custom MCP servers bring an inordinate amount of risk compared to the ones we safety scan and review in the directory, so we hid them behind a scary looking "Developer mode" toggle so that non-technical users would be disincentivized to install custom MCP servers and instead relied on the directory of "safe" MCP servers. so it's always been possible, just hidden. we've now made advancements that mean it's still scary, but slightly less so, and so we feel more comfortable removing that scary toggle. just took a while