OpenAI turns ChatGPT into a wholesaler

OpenAI is introducing a new feature that helps users find products they want to buy and actually buy them. The move comes a year after Perplexity did the same – and better.

While users find different ways to employ ChatGPT for their own benefit, it’s often used as a shopping guide that helps people find the exact products they need.

Considering this, OpenAI is introducing a new feature, Instant Checkout.

Users of ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Free who are located in the US can use the chat to buy from Etsy sellers also located in the US. Users can purchase items from more than a million sellers, such as SKIMS, Glossier, and Spanx, found on Shopify.

For now, the Instant Checkout feature allows single-item purchases, but the company plans to add multi-item carts and extend the list of sellers and regions in the future.

The new feature allows users to “go from chat to checkout in just a few taps.” For example, if a user is looking for new shoes or a gift, all they have to do is ask ChatGPT for “best running shoes under $100,” and the AI agent will provide them with suitable options.

If the relevant product includes Instant Checkout, the user can click “Buy” and add all the necessary details to finish the purchase via ChatGPT chat.

The company shares that the search results are based on relevance.

Regarding payment, ChatGPT subscribers can use the same card used for the service payment or add another card.

OpenAI also notes that the merchant takes care of the orders and payments with ChatGPT working as a middleman, “securely passing information between user and merchant, just like a digital personal shopper would.”

While this feature may be useful for those who prefer shopping online, it isn’t a novelty in the AI world. Perplexity introduced the same feature, “Buy with Pro,” last year, with the company also adding free shipping as a thank-you gesture for using it.

OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol for merchants

According to the company, the new feature benefits not only the users but also the sellers by making it easier for them to reach customers.

OpenAI is also open-sourcing the technology behind Instant Checkout, known as Agentic Commerce Protocol, so that more sellers and developers can integrate it into their businesses.

While the feature is free for ChatGPT users, sellers will have to pay “a small fee on completed purchases.”

When it comes to seller ranking, the AI assistant considers aspects such as whether the seller has Instant Checkout, whether the seller is the primary merchant, the product’s availability, price, and quality.

The company has been improving its service to meet changing user needs.

Recently, the Parental Control feature was added to ChatGPT to ensure the well-being of younger AI assistant users.

The new feature sends parents notifications alerting them when their kids experience distress.

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