ChatGPT Introduces Instant Checkout for Seamless Shopping

OpenAI has introduced a significant advancement in online shopping with the launch of 'Instant Checkout' within ChatGPT, allowing U.S. users to purchase products from Etsy and soon from Shopify merchants without leaving the chat interface.

The feature is accessible to ChatGPT Pro, Plus, and Free logged-in users, facilitating direct single-item purchases from U.S.-based Etsy sellers. OpenAI has announced that over one million Shopify merchants, including well-known brands like Glossier, Skims, Spanx, and Vuori, will be integrated soon.

This development suggests a potential shift in the e-commerce landscape, traditionally dominated by Google's search and Amazon's marketplace. With conversational AI, users may increasingly bypass conventional platforms, relying on AI agents to recommend, compare, and finalize purchases with minimal effort.

OpenAI stated in a blog post that 'currently, Instant Checkout supports single-item purchases. Next, we will introduce multi-item carts and expand merchants and regions.' The company also highlighted that product results in ChatGPT are 'organic and unsponsored, ranked solely on user relevance.'

At the core of this new system is the Agentic Commerce Protocol, an open standard co-developed with Stripe and leading retailers. This protocol enables seamless interaction among AI agents, individuals, and businesses in the shopping process, from order placement to payment and fulfillment.

OpenAI emphasized that the framework prioritizes trust and security. Users confirm each step before completing a transaction, payments are encrypted, and only minimal customer data is shared with merchants.

The launch aligns with similar industry trends. Last year, Perplexity AI introduced in-chat shopping and payments, while Microsoft's Copilot Merchant Program allows sellers to build storefronts within AI-powered chats.