OpenAI is testing a new feature for ChatGPT called Skills, which appears to be similar to the Skills system already available in Anthropic’s Claude AI.
The feature is still in development, but early details suggest it could change how users customize and extend ChatGPT.
Until now, ChatGPT has relied on custom GPTs, which are built using specific prompt instructions to perform tasks or exhibit certain behaviors. These GPTs allow users to tailor ChatGPT for writing, coding, research, or other use cases, but they are mostly limited to text-based instructions.
Claude’s Skills work differently. They use structured, folder-based instructions that teach the AI specific abilities, workflows, or domain knowledge. These skills can include rules, context, and even executable code, making them more powerful for complex tasks. For example, Claude has frontend design skills that help it better understand user interfaces while developers build web apps through conversational coding.
Anthropic describes Skills as composable, meaning multiple skills can work together automatically. They are also portable, so a skill can be used across Claude’s apps, coding tools, and API without rebuilding it. Skills are designed to be efficient by loading only what is needed for a task, and powerful enough to include real code when traditional programming is more reliable than text generation.
According to information spotted on X by Tibor, OpenAI is working on a similar system for ChatGPT. Internally, these Skills are reportedly codenamed “hazelnuts.” The feature is expected to work through slash commands and may include a Skills editor, along with an option to convert existing custom GPTs into Skills.
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While OpenAI has not officially announced a release date, early signs suggest that ChatGPT Skills could begin rolling out around January 2026. If launched, the feature could make ChatGPT more modular, flexible, and capable of handling advanced workflows across different use cases.
