Connected-app permissions determine what an AI tool can access or do through an account linked to another service, such as searching files in cloud storage or creating a document. The available access depends on the connected account, app, and any workspace controls.
There are two related controls to distinguish. The service authorization and app capabilities determine which information and actions are available; a confirmation setting determines whether the assistant must ask before using that access or taking an action. For ChatGPT, OpenAI says app-permission settings do not grant new access: the app, the connection’s existing authorization, and workspace controls define what data and actions are available (connected-app documentation, checked 3 October 2026).
When choosing an integration for author work, check whether it can read only, or also create, edit, or send material, and whether access can be limited to a project folder or account. Reading research notes for a summary is a different job from applying edits to a manuscript or sending a finished description to a mailing list. Fine-grained scopes, approval prompts, and administrator controls vary by service.