Setup guide

Use Public Signal in ChatGPT

Bring Public Signal's Instagram research into ChatGPT on the web.

https://publicsignallabs.com/mcp

This address is public and is not a secret. You never need to open it in a browser: your app pastes it in during setup.

Before you start

For ChatGPT users on an eligible paid plan. No coding required; use a computer.

• An eligible ChatGPT plan. Current vendor documentation lists Pro, Plus, Business, Enterprise, and Education, but availability also depends on workspace policy: a company or school account may need an administrator to allow outside connections.
• Access to ChatGPT in a desktop browser. Menus and labels are rolling out gradually, so your screen may look slightly different from these steps.
• Willingness to turn on Developer mode. OpenAI describes this as elevated risk: only connect services you trust, and review what each connection can do. If you are uncomfortable, use Public Signal here instead.
• A Public Signal account whose credits you want research to use.

Effort: About 10 minutes. Take it one step at a time; nothing here runs research or spends credits until you send the first request yourself.

Steps

1. 1. Confirm Developer mode is available to you

   Open ChatGPT settings and look for Security and login. If you do not see Developer mode or connection options, your plan or workspace policy does not expose them: ask your administrator, try another app from our setup guides, or research in your workspace instead.

   You should now see: You can see Developer mode or app-connection settings.

2. 2. Turn on Developer mode

   In Settings, then Security and login, turn on Developer mode. Read OpenAI's own warning carefully: this mode lets ChatGPT connect to outside tools, which is powerful but riskier than ordinary chat. Only add services you trust and review what they can do.

   You should now see: Developer mode is on for your account or workspace.

3. 3. Create the Public Signal connection

   Create the connection from the plugins surface (currently at chatgpt.com/plugins): start a new app or connection entry, choose the remote MCP server option, name it Public Signal, and paste the connection address from this guide.

   There is no Public Signal install button for ChatGPT: the connection is created by you, by hand, in ChatGPT's own interface.

   You should now see: ChatGPT lists Public Signal as a connection awaiting sign-in.

4. 4. Sign in to Public Signal and approve access

   ChatGPT opens a browser sign-in for Public Signal. Use the account whose credits you want to use, review the access request, and approve it. Your Public Signal password is not shared with ChatGPT.

   Research run this way uses your Public Signal credits, and ChatGPT's own usage rules also apply.

   You should now see: The connection shows as connected in ChatGPT settings.

5. 5. Enable it in a conversation and try one lookup

   Start a new conversation, open the + menu, choose Developer mode, and select Public Signal. Confirm its tools are listed, then send the bounded first request from this guide when you are ready.

   You should now see: You receive a short profile summary with a source link.

Your first request

Copy the request below and send it in your app when you are ready. It asks for exactly one profile, so you can confirm the connection without starting a large search. Running it uses Public Signal credits, and your app may have its own usage charges.

Using Public Signal, look up the public Instagram profile @natgeo. Summarize its bio and follower count, and include its profile link. Use only one profile lookup; do not fetch follower lists or expand the research.

Keep it switched on

• Enable Public Signal in each conversation: + → Developer mode → Public Signal. A saved connection is not enough on its own.
• If your screen looks different, search ChatGPT settings for Security, Developer mode, Apps, or Plugins: OpenAI is moving these surfaces, and company workspaces may rename or restrict them.

Next, bring your own campaign brief and ask for a small evidence-backed shortlist. Build your first creator shortlist walks through that.

If something goes wrong

• I cannot find Developer mode: Your plan or workspace policy likely does not expose it. Confirm your plan, ask your administrator whether outside connections are allowed, or choose another app or the hosted agent.
• My screen looks different from these steps: OpenAI is rolling these menus out gradually. Look for equivalent Security and login, Developer mode, Apps, or Plugins entries, and follow the same order: allow, create, sign in, enable per chat.
• It keeps asking me to sign in: Complete the approval in the same browser where you are signed in to Public Signal, using the account whose credits you want. Approvals started in one browser and finished in another often loop.
• I connected it, but nothing happens: Start a new conversation and open + → Developer mode → Public Signal. Select it and confirm its tools are listed before sending a request.

Still stuck? Get connection help covers the common cases across every app, or write to support@publicsignallabs.com.

Remove the connection

• Remove the Public Signal connection in the same ChatGPT settings or plugins surface where you created it.
• Disconnecting does not restore credits already used. Contact support if you need help revoking an authorization.

Good to know

• Signing in lets your app use Public Signal on your behalf. Your Public Signal password is not shared with the app.
• Research uses your Public Signal credits. Your AI app may have its own plan or usage charges, and hosted-agent chats also consume credits for model inference.
• Public Signal uses browser sign-in, not API keys or manually pasted access tokens. Use automatic registration where offered; do not invent a client ID or secret.
• Prefer to skip setup entirely? Open the agent and research here instead.