How to Integrate OpenAI Custom GPTs with Zapier Actions

Custom GPTs in OpenAI allow you to create AI assistants that are tailored to your workflows. With Zapier AI Actions, you can go one step further: your GPT can actually take action in 7,000+ apps — from creating Google Docs and sending Gmail drafts to updating Google Sheets or Slack messages.

This guide walks you through the process of integrating Zapier Actions into your own GPT.

Why Integrate Zapier Actions?

By default, a GPT can answer questions, generate content, or browse the web. But with Zapier Actions, your GPT can:

  • Save conversations into Google Docs

  • Add customer details into Google Sheets

  • Send follow-up emails via Gmail

  • Post notifications in Slack

  • And much more across thousands of apps

Step 1: Import the Zapier Actions Schema

  1. Go to ChatGPT → My GPTs → Create a GPT.

  2. Click Configure on your GPT.

  3. Scroll down to Actions → Create new action.

  4. Choose Import from URL.

  5. Paste this link into the box:

    https://actions.zapier.com/gpt/api/v1/dynamic/openapi.json?tools=meta

  6. Click Import.

  7. You’ll see a list of available Zapier actions load in.

Step 2: Enable the Actions You Need

When adding an action, search for the exact app and action you want. Examples:

  • Google Docs: Create Document from Text – saves GPT output into a Google Doc.

  • Google Sheets: Create Spreadsheet Row – logs details into a sheet.

  • Gmail: Create Draft – drafts an email you can review before sending.

  • Slack: Send Direct Message – notifies teammates automatically.

Select each one and click Enable Action.

Step 3: Add Instructions to Your GPT

Next, tell your GPT how to use these actions. Scroll to the Instructions field in your GPT’s configuration and paste in an action workflow.

Here’s a template you can adapt:

### Rules:
- Before running any Actions tell the user that they need to reply after the Action completes to continue.

### Instructions for Zapier AI Actions:
Step 1. Check for required action(s):
    - Call `list_available_actions` to generate available actions list
    - If required action exists → Step 4
    - If not → Step 2
Step 2. For missing required action(s):
    - Send configuration link
    - Wait for user to confirm they've configured the required action
Step 3. After user confirms configuration → proceed to Step 4 with original request
Step 4. Execute `run_action`:
    - Use the action ID from the results array of the `list_available_actions` response
    - Fill in required parameters based on user request

Step 4: Define Required Actions

At the bottom of your instructions, add the specific actions your GPT will need, along with configuration links. For example:

Required Actions:
- Action: "Google Docs: Create Document from Text"
  Configuration Link: "https://actions.zapier.com/gpt/start?setup_action=google%20docs%20create%20document%20from%20text"

- Action: "Google Sheets: Create Spreadsheet Row"
  Configuration Link: "https://actions.zapier.com/gpt/start?setup_action=google%20sheets%20create%20spreadsheet%20row&setup_params=set%20have%20AI%20guess%20for%20Spreadsheet%20and%20Worksheet"

These links let you (or anyone you share your GPT with) quickly set up the correct Zapier integration.

Step 5: Test Your GPT

Try prompting your GPT with a test workflow, for example:

“Save this conversation into a Google Doc and log my details into Google Sheets.”

The GPT will:

  1. Suggest a title for the document.

  2. Create the Google Doc with structured content.

  3. Add a row into Google Sheets with customer name, email, doc link, and timestamp.

Example Use Cases

  • Calendar Assistant GPT → Reads your Google Calendar and drafts Gmail follow-ups.

  • CRM Logger GPT → Saves customer chats to Google Docs and logs key details into Google Sheets.

  • Dossier GPT → Finds attendees of a meeting, browses the web for profiles, and creates a summary doc.

Conclusion

Integrating Zapier Actions with OpenAI GPTs unlocks automation superpowers. Instead of just answering questions, your GPT can now act: update spreadsheets, send emails, generate documents, and connect to thousands of business tools.

Start small (e.g., Google Docs + Google Sheets) and then expand to other apps in your workflow. Within minutes, you’ll have a GPT that’s not only smart — but also productive. 🚀

Custom GPT, ZapierFrancesca Tabor