OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT’s functions beyond conversation. It is turning the chatbot into a virtual storefront for online sellers. The company has started to let users browse and buy products from Etsy directly within ChatGPT. Support for Shopify merchants is expected to come soon.
This move is OpenAI’s first big step into e-commerce. This market has been dominated by tech giants like Amazon and Google. By collecting transaction fees from online purchases, OpenAI hopes to create a new source of revenue as it deals with the high costs of running its AI systems. Even with its rapid growth, the company has not yet made a profit and still depends heavily on investor funding.
To support the new shopping feature, OpenAI is collaborating with payments platform Stripe to develop the backend technology that powers an “Instant Checkout” experience. This system aims to simplify purchases, allowing users to complete transactions without leaving the chatbot interface.
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Several companies in the payments sector have been exploring similar integrations with AI tools, particularly around autonomous “agents” capable of making purchases on behalf of users. However, OpenAI emphasized that ChatGPT will not prioritize any specific sellers in its responses.
“When multiple merchants offer the same product, ChatGPT ranks them based on factors like availability, price, quality, and whether they support Instant Checkout,” the company said. “The goal is to optimize the user experience, not to favor particular listings.”
This e-commerce push adds another layer to ChatGPT’s growing list of functions and signals OpenAI’s broader ambitions to embed its technology deeper into everyday digital life—including how people shop online.
With AP Inputs
