Optimal's MCP (Model Context Protocol) server lets ChatGPT securely pull your research data straight out of Optimal, so you can ask natural-language questions and dive deeper into your research.
These steps are written for ChatGPT. The same Optimal MCP server also works with other MCP-compatible AI assistants, including Cursor, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, and other custom MCPs.
Requirements
ChatGPT
Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Edu plan. Custom MCP connectors aren't available on the Free tier.
Developer Mode enabled in ChatGPT (see step 2 under Connect ChatGPT to Optimal). Without it, custom connectors are limited to basic search/fetch and can't use Optimal's full set of tools.
Optimal
An active Optimal account, with access to the workspace(s)/studies you want ChatGPT to read from.
MCP enabled for your Optimal workspace. If you do not have access, please get in touch with your admin to enable MCP under the Features tab.
Who can connect
ChatGPT Plus & Pro users:
Can add the MCP connector themselves via Settings.
ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, or Edu admins:
Admins control whether custom connectors are allowed for a workspace.
A workspace admin typically publishes the connector (self-service or org-wide) from Workspace settings > Apps
Members can then connect individually.
Connect ChatGPT to Optimal
Open Settings in ChatGPT. Go to Settings > Apps
Enable Developer Mode. This unlocks full MCP tool support in regular chats (not just Deep Research mode).
Business: Admins/Owners enable Developer Mode when creating a custom app or from Workspace Settings.
Enterprise/Edu: If your admin has granted access, go to Settings → Apps → Advanced Settings and turn on Developer Mode.
Create a custom app. Go to Apps → Create, then enter:
Name: Optimal
Server URL:
https://app.optimalworkshop.com/mcpAuthentication: OAuth. Sign in to Optimal when prompted and approve access.
Scan tools and create the app. Click Scan Tools. If prompted, sign in to Optimal and authorize access. Once the scan completes, click Create.
Publish the app (Business/Enterprise/Edu only). An Admin or Owner may need to publish the app before it's available to your workspace.
Use the app in a conversation. In a chat, click the + next to the message box, choose More, and select Optimal (it may appear with a Custom label). You can also invoke it with @Optimal in supported chats.
Please refer to the latest documentation from ChatGPT for any updates.
What can ChatGPT read?
ChatGPT can only read your Optimal data. It can't create, edit, or delete anything in Optimal, and it only sees what your own user login already has access to.
Study setup & metadata — study configuration and metadata (names, methodology, dates, etc.); tags, observations, and notes added by your team
Participant results — task results, success/completion metrics, and clickmaps/paths for prototype & usability tests; aggregated survey response distributions for structured questions (radio, checkbox, rating, etc.). Open-text/free-form survey answers are not currently surfaced through the MCP.
Recordings & transcripts — session and transcript counts for interview studies. Raw recordings and playback (video/audio) are not retrieved directly — what's exposed is derived from them (counts, AI analysis), not the recording files themselves.
AI-generated outputs — AI-generated study summaries, plus categorized insights such as themes, pain points, opportunities, sentiment, behaviours, and mental models, each with source/citation counts; task-, section-, and study-level analysis
Example prompts
These are just a few examples to get you started. You're not limited to this phrasing or these topics. Ask ChatGPT in your own words; it can handle a much wider range of questions across your Optimal data.
"What were the biggest usability issues across our last five prototype tests?"
"Summarize participant feedback for our onboarding flow."
"What themes emerged from our customer interviews this quarter?"
"Compare findings between our March and June studies."
Things to know
Access mirrors your Optimal permissions. ChatGPT can only retrieve data from workspaces/studies you can already see.
ChatGPT's Developer Mode / connector support is currently in beta. The exact menu names may shift as OpenAI updates the product. Please refer to the latest documentation from ChatGPT for any updates.
Questions? Please get in touch with our team or share your feedback via our feedback and features request form.