OpenAI is enhancing ChatGPT’s functionality with the introduction of its Instant Checkout feature. This update allows users to search for, select, and purchase products directly within ChatGPT, eliminating the need to navigate to external websites. The feature utilizes the Agentic Commerce Protocol, developed in collaboration with Stripe, a leading global fintech company. This protocol facilitates efficient interactions between AI agents, users, and businesses, allowing for seamless purchases within the chat interface. According to OpenAI, the process is straightforward. Users can request ChatGPT to find products online, choose an item from the search results, and then click the ‘Buy’ button. They can confirm their order and enter the necessary information within the same chat window.
After the order is placed, the merchant is responsible for shipping and customer support, with ChatGPT serving solely as the ordering platform. OpenAI has assured users that the search results generated by ChatGPT will be organic and impartial, stating, “there will be no preferential listings.” Currently, Instant Checkout is exclusively available to users in the United States. The feature currently supports Etsy merchants, with plans to integrate Shopify soon, which will connect users to over a million merchants globally. Notably, this feature is accessible to all ChatGPT users, including those on the free plan, and OpenAI has confirmed that users will not incur additional fees when shopping through ChatGPT.
However, participating merchants will pay a nominal fee to utilize the protocol, with OpenAI emphasizing that product prices will stay the same. Although the initial version may seem basic, OpenAI has plans for expansion, including the introduction of multi-item carts that will allow users to purchase multiple products in one transaction. The company also aims to extend Instant Checkout to more regions and increase merchant participation beyond Etsy and Shopify. To encourage adoption, OpenAI has made the Agentic Commerce Protocol open source, allowing developers and merchants worldwide to enable their products for direct purchase within ChatGPT.
This launch follows OpenAI’s recent rollout of ChatGPT Pulse, which operates in the background to collect updates and provide personalized insights to users the following day. These developments illustrate OpenAI’s commitment to making ChatGPT a central tool for everyday tasks, from staying informed to shopping online, reshaping the way individuals engage with technology and commerce.