
The OpenAI Launch Nobody's Talking About (ChatGPT Skills)
The Startup Ideas Podcast
Agent Skills IO and examples
Greg points to agentskills.io and GitHub examples, and outlines capabilities enabled by the open skill format.
Today I break down a big news item I think is flying under the radar: OpenAI quietly launched Skills for Codex, and I explain what that means (and how it differs from sub-agents and MCPs). I then share a fast-moving trend I’m watching and why it’s a strong wedge for a simple app. After that, I recommend the to-do app I’ve used for 14 years and give away a startup idea. I close with a practical 6-step framework for going from idea → viral validation → mobile app launch in 2026.
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: the new format (news, trend, app, startup idea, framework)
00:40 – AI New Item: OpenAI launches Skills for Codex
05:45 – Trend: Face Yoga
07:56 – App Recommendation: Things
09:33 – Startup Idea: Call-an-expert service for non-developers stuck at 80% done
14:44 – Framework: Viral Mobile App Framework
Key Points
OpenAI “Skills” make Codex/ChatGPT more reusable and consistent by packaging repeatable workflows.
A “skill” is the recipe, a “sub-agent” is extra worker instances, and an “MCP” is the tool access plug.
Face yoga is an emerging sub-niche with clear app potential (simple routines, monetization via paid or ads).
Last 20 is a practical marketplace idea: pay for 15 minutes of expert unblock help to finish the last 20%.
Viral validation favors apps that are visually obvious, explainable in three words, and tied to insecurity-driven outcomes.
Numbered Section Summaries
OpenAI Skills: The Quiet Upgrade I walk through OpenAI’s launch of Skills for Codex—reusable bundles of instructions/scripts/resources that can be called directly or chosen automatically. I’m excited because this makes agent workflows more consistent and scalable across tasks.
The Foundation: Skill vs Sub-Agent vs MCP I clarify the taxonomy: a skill is the written playbook, sub-agents are extra “worker” copies of the model that split a big job, and MCPs are what let the model access external systems like tickets or repos. This is the mental model I want everyone using going into 2026.
The Trend: Face Yoga As An App Wedge I share a niche trend I’m seeing—face yoga—and why it’s a product opportunity similar to how yoga apps became huge. I call out the obvious app angles: guided routines, jawline/face-slimming programs, and content-driven growth via short videos.
The Tool: Things (My Simple Focus System) I recommend the Things to-do app because it’s simple: “Today,” “Upcoming,” and “Someday,” without a monthly fee. I also note what’s missing (I’d like more AI features), but it still wins for focus if you don’t want a “kitchen sink” system.
The Startup Idea: Last 20 (Phone-A-Friend For Vibe Coders) I give away the idea: builders get stuck at 80% after using Cursor/Replit/V0, so Last 20 matches them with someone who’s solved that exact wall before. The product is a fast screen-share session—problem solved—priced per session or bundled for teams/agencies, with the marketplace taking a cut.
The Distribution Framework: Viral Validation → Launch I share a 6-step process: warm up the account, design a visually obvious app, build a tiny MVP fast, post daily until something hits, build the community before the product, then launch with a hard paywall and keep content rolling. It’s a simple playbook for getting to organic traction in 2026.
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