← All thirteen capabilities
Capability 07
A connection to your other tools.
Exact name Tool connection
Step 03 · Get connected
01
What it is.
A link that lets the tool reach another service you use, such as your email, calendar, files or a business system. Some connections only read. Some can also act: Claude's Microsoft 365 connector, for example, can write email, calendar entries and files once an admin consents.
02
What your tool calls it.
Your tool · ChatGPT
apps
plugins
apps, packaged in plugins
- apps: Connections that let ChatGPT reach an outside service. Since July 9, 2026 they are packaged inside plugins and listed in the Plugin directory.
- plugins: Installable bundles that can combine reusable instructions (skills) with connected apps. Custom GPTs are being migrated into them.
Your tool · Claude
Connectors
Connectors (custom ones are MCP)
- Connectors: Links from Claude to outside services. For example, the Microsoft 365 connector can search, and with admin consent can also write email, calendar entries and files.
Also at Claude: plugins
Your tool · Gemini
Connected Appsrolling out
- Connected Apps: Links Gemini to Google apps and outside services so it can use them in chats and tasks. Custom MCP-based apps work only inside tasks.
Your tool · Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot Connectors
Microsoft 365 Copilot Connectors (Microsoft also writes "Copilot connectors")
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Connectors: Connections that bring data from outside systems into Copilot. External and partner connections are off by default in government clouds.
Your tool · Perplexity
Connectors
Pluginsrolling out
Connectors (now on the Plugins page)
- Connectors: Links that let Computer use an outside tool such as Gmail, Slack, Snowflake or GitHub, including custom remote MCP connectors you add.
- Plugins: Installable bundles of connectors and skills for a particular job. They're managed on one Plugins page that also holds standalone connectors and skills.
Your tool · Grok
Connectors
- Connectors: Links Grok to email, cloud files, calendars, CRM and other tools. Types are built-in, a catalogue, and custom MCP servers. Grok uses them inside a chat.
Your tool · Meta AI and Muse
Connectors
third party app connectionsrolling out
Connectors (Muse) · third party app connections (Meta AI)
- Connectors: Links between Muse and other apps and services. Named examples include Gmail, Google Calendar and Instagram, and in Singapore Shopee, Grab, Agoda and others.
- third party app connections: Meta AI on the Meta AI app and meta.ai can connect to outside apps; the July 2026 newsroom post names email and calendar apps.
Your tool · Mistral Vibe
Connectors
MCP Connectors
- Connectors: Links that let the assistant read from and act in outside services such as Gmail, Outlook, Slack, Notion, GitHub or Google Drive during a task.
- MCP Connectors: Connections to third-party or self-hosted MCP servers. They come either from a Mistral-curated directory an administrator adds to the organisation, or from a server URL you enter.
Pick your tool to see its answer first:
The other seven
Claude
Connectors (custom ones are MCP)
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot Connectors (Microsoft also writes "Copilot connectors")
Perplexity
Connectors (now on the Plugins page)
Meta AI and Muse
Connectors (Muse) · third party app connections (Meta AI)
Six of the eight say "connectors". Google says Connected Apps; ChatGPT says apps, now packaged in plugins.
03
Why it matters.
Our view: this is the point where the tool stops working only on what you paste in and starts working on your real systems. That's where most of the value is, and it's also where IT gets involved.
04
Words that trip people up.
- App. In ChatGPT an app is a connection to another service. In Gemini, "Connected Apps" are connections, but "the Gemini app" is the product. More on "app" →
- Plugin. ChatGPT and Perplexity now put connections inside plugins. More on "plugin" →
- Microsoft writes it two ways: "Microsoft 365 Copilot Connectors" and "Copilot connectors".
- MCP. Claude's custom connectors are built on MCP. Mistral lists MCP Connectors separately.
05
Close to this, but not it.
Gemini
Customizerolling out
Not a match: A menu that holds skills and Connected Apps, not a connection itself
Meta AI and Muse
Meta Business Agent Platform
Not a match: Business infrastructure for linking agents to systems, not a user's own tool connection
06
Next to it.
12
Add-ons from a directory
In ChatGPT: Plugin directory
In Claude: Claude directory (plugins)
In Gemini: Not found
In Microsoft Copilot: Agent Store
In Perplexity: Plugins — Discover tab, published by Perplexity
In Grok: Grok Build Plugin Marketplace (developer CLI)
In Meta AI and Muse: Not found
In Mistral Vibe: MCP Connectors directory (admins add from it)
Open →
11
Inside your other apps
In ChatGPT: ChatGPT for Word / Excel / PowerPoint · ChatGPT for Google Sheets · ChatGPT browser extension
In Claude: Claude for Excel / PowerPoint · Claude for Word · Claude for Outlook · Claude in Chrome (beta) · Claude Tag in Slack
In Gemini: Gemini in Chrome · Gemini side panel in Google Workspace
In Microsoft Copilot: Copilot in Outlook · Copilot Chat in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote · Edit with Copilot (paid) · Copilot in Teams · Copilot Chat in Edge
In Perplexity: Comet browser · Perplexity in Slack
In Grok: Grok for Outlook · Word / Excel / PowerPoint · Grok tab on X · Shared Bots in Slack
In Meta AI and Muse: Meta AI inside WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Facebook · Muse in WhatsApp
In Mistral Vibe: Mistral Vibe for VS Code · Vibe Code Web for Slack — coding only
Open →
08
Something that runs on a schedule
In ChatGPT: Scheduled tasks
In Claude: scheduled tasks (formerly routines)
In Gemini: Schedules — not "Scheduled actions"
In Microsoft Copilot: Scheduled Prompts — paid licence
In Perplexity: Scheduled Tasks (in Computer)
In Grok: Automations · routines (Grok Bot)
In Meta AI and Muse: scheduled tasks (Muse) · daily briefing (Meta AI, rolling out)
In Mistral Vibe: Scheduled tasks (preview)
Open →
07
One step up.
Step 04 · Let it workIt works through a job or on a schedule.
08
Something that runs on a schedule
In ChatGPT: Scheduled tasks
In Claude: scheduled tasks (formerly routines)
In Gemini: Schedules — not "Scheduled actions"
In Microsoft Copilot: Scheduled Prompts — paid licence
In Perplexity: Scheduled Tasks (in Computer)
In Grok: Automations · routines (Grok Bot)
In Meta AI and Muse: scheduled tasks (Muse) · daily briefing (Meta AI, rolling out)
In Mistral Vibe: Scheduled tasks (preview)
Open →
09
An agent that works through a job on its own
In ChatGPT: ChatGPT Work (rolling out; every plan in the desktop app) · dots (beta)
In Claude: Cowork, inside chat · computer use (research preview) · Dispatch · Claude Duet (research preview)
In Gemini: Task (formerly Spark; Google AI Pro or Ultra)
In Microsoft Copilot: Copilot Cowork — GA, paid licence · Researcher · Analyst — paid licence
In Perplexity: Computer · Comet Assistant · Comet Agent
In Grok: Grok Bot
In Meta AI and Muse: Muse
In Mistral Vibe: Vibe Work
Open →
10
Working on files on your own computer
In ChatGPT: ChatGPT desktop app — Work and Codex run there
In Claude: Claude Desktop · Claude Code
In Gemini: Gemini app on Mac — local files per the June 30, 2026 release note
In Microsoft Copilot: None — Cowork works on OneDrive and SharePoint
In Perplexity: Personal Computer (Mac and Windows)
In Grok: Grok Build (terminal)
In Meta AI and Muse: Muse for Mac
In Mistral Vibe: Vibe Code (CLI)
Open →
08
What this step asks of you.
Step 03 · Get connected
Start read-only, with the least access that works. Approve each new connection before it's switched on.
Learn
Where we teach it.
In the longer class: Get the answer out of the system you already pay for, Triage the queue, and Getting access without getting admin, which is about describing the access an automation needs in words your IT will act on.
Register interest → Or: a session built around your own team's systems →