How to Connect LinkedIn to ChatGPT (and the Developer Mode Catch)

People searching for a ChatGPT LinkedIn integration usually want one thing: ChatGPT answering questions like "who can introduce me to someone at this company?" from their real network, not from guesses.

You can have that today. One catch to know before you start, then the setup.

The catch: Developer mode

ChatGPT accepts custom connections only with Developer mode turned on, and Developer mode is available on Pro, Plus, Business, Enterprise and Education accounts on the web. Free accounts can't enable it, and some company workspaces restrict it.

On a free account? Claude's setup needs no special mode, and the result is the same.

Why there's no direct integration

LinkedIn's official API gives third-party apps almost no access to connection data, so ChatGPT can't read your network on its own. The bridge is your network graph: Draftboard maps who you know and who they know, scores every relationship 0 to 100 with the reason behind the score, and serves that to ChatGPT over MCP. ChatGPT never touches LinkedIn. It queries data Draftboard already mapped.

Setup

1. Create a Draftboard account (free to start, 50 free credits) and stay signed in in your browser.
2. In ChatGPT on the web, open Settings → Security and login and turn on Developer mode.
3. Open Plugins, select +, and point the new app at the server address: `https://mcp.draftboard.com`
4. Approve the connection when your browser opens. No API key.

ChatGPT's settings screens move around now and then; the always-current steps live at draftboard.com/mcp.

What to ask once it's connected

Start with: "Use Draftboard to find warm introduction paths to [company]."

Then:

• "Who's my warmest path to [person], and why is that relationship strong?"
• "Does anyone on my team know someone at [company]?"
• "Add these prospects as targets and start the search."
• "Which intros should I ask for this week?"

Every answer comes with the relationship behind it: "worked together at Google for two years, ending three years ago," plus a 0 to 100 score. That's the difference between knowing you have 12 mutual connections and knowing which one can actually get you the meeting.

One expectation to set: a fresh account maps your network in real time at a careful pace, so a big target list fills in over a day or two. Ask ChatGPT to check back.

For the bigger picture on giving AI tools access to your network, read the LinkedIn MCP overview. Or start free and try the first question tonight.