OpenAI has introduced a revolutionary “Instant Checkout” feature to its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, enabling users to purchase products without ever leaving their chat conversations. This innovative capability is currently exclusive to users in the United States, yet it’s accessible to all ChatGPT subscribers—whether Plus, Pro, or free users. Initially, the feature facilitates direct purchases from Etsy sellers, with plans to soon extend this convenience to products from major Shopify merchants.
Seamless Shopping Experience Within ChatGPT
The US-based technology firm officially announced the integration of AI agentic shopping into ChatGPT, powered by Instant Checkout. All ChatGPT users in the US can now directly buy various products from Etsy through their conversations with the chatbot. Future expansions will include the ability to purchase items from prominent Shopify brands such as Glossier, Skims, Spanx, and Vuori.
Presently, Instant Checkout supports single-item purchases only. However, OpenAI has outlined plans to introduce multi-item purchasing functionality and to broaden the roster of participating merchants and geographical regions.
To power this new era of AI-driven commerce, OpenAI has open-sourced the underlying technology, known as the Agentic Commerce Protocol. This open standard is designed to foster collaborative purchasing experiences between businesses, users, and chatbots. The protocol was developed in partnership with Stripe, a leading payment processing company.
Utilizing the feature is straightforward: users simply start a new conversation or continue an existing one in ChatGPT and inquire about a specific product. For instance, they might ask for recommendations for “the best running shoes under $100” or “unique gifts for ceramic bowl enthusiasts.”
ChatGPT will then present a selection of highly relevant products sourced from various platforms. OpenAI emphasizes that these results are “organic and unsponsored,” with rankings determined solely by their relevance to the user’s query.
If a desired product supports Instant Checkout, users can complete their purchase directly within the chat interface. The process involves confirming the purchase, shipping address, and payment details. ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers can conveniently use their saved credit or debit card information for transactions.
It’s important to note that sellers are subject to a fee payable to OpenAI for purchases made via ChatGPT Instant Checkout. However, OpenAI has confirmed that no additional charges are imposed on customers. The company also clarified that Instant Checkout products do not receive preferential treatment in search results. When evaluating identical products from different merchants, ChatGPT’s ranking algorithm considers factors such as availability, price, quality, whether the merchant is the primary seller, and if Instant Checkout is enabled.