OpenAI Ventures into E-commerce: ChatGPT to Integrate Payment Checkout System

OpenAI working on payment checkout system within ChatGPT, FT reports

July 16 (Reuters) - OpenAI is planning to take a cut from online product sales made through ChatGPT by integrating a payment checkout system into the chatbot, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing multiple people familiar with the proposals. Merchants that fulfill orders through the payment system will pay a commission to OpenAI, the report said. The move would allow OpenAI to tap a new source of revenue, taking advantage of the heavy user traffic on ChatGPT, in addition to its traditional subscription model. The checkout feature is still in development, but OpenAI and partners such as e-commerce platform Shopify (SHOP.TO), opens new tab have been presenting early versions of the system to brands and discussing financial terms, the report said. OpenAI and Shopify did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. The two companies had announced a partnership earlier this year, shortly after the AI startup launched an enhanced shopping feature to better display products and reviews, the report added. The Sam Altman-led company currently displays suggested products on ChatGPT through links that take users to online retailers' websites. OpenAI said earlier this year that its annualized revenue run rate surged to $10 billion as of June, up from $5.5 billion in December 2024. The company, however, lost around $5 billion last year. Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

OpenAI working on payment checkout system within ChatGPT: Report - The Economic Times

The move would allow OpenAI to tap a new source of revenue, taking advantage of the heavy user traffic on ChatGPT, in addition to its traditional subscription model.OpenAI is planning to take a cut from online product sales made through ChatGPT by integrating a payment checkout system into the chatbot, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing multiple people familiar with the proposals. Merchants that fulfill orders through the payment system will pay a commission to OpenAI, the report said. The move would allow OpenAI to tap a new source of revenue, taking advantage of the heavy user traffic on ChatGPT, in addition to its traditional subscription model. The checkout feature is still in development, but OpenAI and partners such as e-commerce platform Shopify have been presenting early versions of the system to brands and discussing financial terms, the report said. OpenAI and Shopify did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. The two companies had announced a partnership earlier this year, shortly after the AI startup launched an enhanced shopping feature to better display products and reviews, the report added. The Sam Altman-led company currently displays suggested products on ChatGPT through links that take users to online retailers' websites. OpenAI said earlier this year that its annualized revenue run rate surged to $10 billion as of June, up from $5.5 billion in December 2024. The company, however, lost around $5 billion last year.

OpenAI tests in-chat payment checkout system

This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community. The feature is currently being tested with Shopify, among others, as a way to let OpenAI take a commission on sales made through the chatbot. OpenAI and Shopify already work together on boosting product discovery, but ChatGPT links to external retailers for transactions. Having pumped billions of dollars into their products, AI firms are working hard on monetising the services. This week, Anthropic launched a tool to help finance professionals analyse markets, conduct research, and make investment decisions with its Claude models.

OpenAI Seeks Piece of ChatGPT-Driven eCommerce Sales | PYMNTS.com

By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. That's according to a report Wednesday (July 16) by the Financial Times (FT), which says this move is part of a plan by the artificial intelligence (AI) startup to derive new revenues from online shopping features. The company already displays products on its platform with the option of clicking through to online retailers, and inked a partnership with eCommerce platform Shopify in April. Now, sources told the FT, OpenAI hopes to integrate a checkout system into ChatGPT, to make sure users complete transactions within the platform. Sellers who make sales this way would pay a commission to OpenAI. PYMNTS has contacted OpenAI for comment but has not yet gotten a reply. The FT notes that this marks a shift in strategy for OpenAI, whose revenue has chiefly come from subscriptions to its premium services. Getting a slice of eCommerce sales would let OpenAI earn money from people using its free service. The report adds this move is another threat to Google's business model, with consumers increasingly turning to AI chatbots for online search and shopping. OpenAI is already building its own browser in a separate challenge to Google, per a report last week by Reuters. While the feature is still in development, the sources told the FT that OpenAI and partners like Shopify have been presenting early versions to brands and discussing financial terms. Writing about the OpenAI/Shopify partnership in April, PYMNTS noted that rival Perplexity already offers its own AI shopping assistant, as well as a free merchant program to allow retailers to share their product specifications so shoppers can find their products. Meanwhile, PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster spoke recently with Rezolve Ai CEO Daniel Wagner about the potential for AI to transform online shopping. "Taking a customer from a query to a purchase is an art form," Wagner said. "We've trained our model on psychographics and closing techniques. We're giving retailers the best salesman on the planet... It understands not just product specifications but the utility of features like why an OLED screen matters, why a fast shutter speed benefits sports photography." Modern AI retail systems, that report added, are anticipating needs as well as responding to queries. While at one time chatbots offered limited, scripted responses, AI-powered sales assistants are now virtually indistinguishable from their human counterparts, argued Wagner. "This is the evolution of digital engagement," he added. "Today's online shopping is old-fashioned and ineffective. Consumers will start to demand the new way."

OpenAI Plans Revenue Boost from ChatGPT Shopping Sales

OpenAI's Direct Threat to Google Search: Will the New Development Turn ChatGPT Into Your New Personal Shopper and Replace E-commerce Browsing? Sam Altman-led OpenAI is preparing to take a share of sales from products recommended through ChatGPT. This move signals the company's first serious step into the e-commerce space. It aims to convert the AI chatbot into a revenue-generating platform, especially from its free user base. In April, OpenAI partnered with Shopify, a leading checkout solutions provider. Shopify's technology may soon enable users to buy products directly within ChatGPT. The same system already powers shopping on platforms like . When users purchase items directly inside ChatGPT, OpenAI will collect a commission from merchants. Brands are already reviewing early versions of this feature, and while financial terms are still being discussed, the direction is clear, ChatGPT will soon serve as a retail gateway. OpenAI's recent memory enhancements allow ChatGPT to remember users' preferences, offering more personalized product recommendations. These suggestions consider factors like user budget and relevance. Although the chatbot model is currently not capable of sorting listings based on price or shipping. Consumers are increasingly using AI chatbots to discover and purchase products. This new ChatGPT upgrade will be in direct competition with the business model of . OpenAI may attract brands and consumers away from search engines towards conversational AI models. Although the project is in its early stages, the Sam Altman-led company and Shopify are actively showcasing the technology to potential brand partners. The revenue model and checkout flow are still subject to change. Although the effort reveals OpenAI's ambition to go beyond subscriptions and enterprise licensing.

OpenAI working on payment checkout system within ChatGPT, FT reports

(Reuters) -OpenAI is planning to take a cut from online product sales made through ChatGPT by integrating a payment checkout system into the chatbot, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing multiple people familiar with the proposals. Merchants that fulfill orders through the payment system will pay a commission to OpenAI, the report said. The move would allow OpenAI to tap a new source of revenue, taking advantage of the heavy user traffic on ChatGPT, in addition to its traditional subscription model. The checkout feature is still in development, but OpenAI and partners such as e-commerce platform Shopify have been presenting early versions of the system to brands and discussing financial terms, the report said. OpenAI and Shopify did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. The two companies had announced a partnership earlier this year, shortly after the AI startup launched an enhanced shopping feature to better display products and reviews, the report added. The Sam Altman-led company currently displays suggested products on ChatGPT through links that take users to online retailers' websites. OpenAI said earlier this year that its annualized revenue run rate surged to $10 billion as of June, up from $5.5 billion in December 2024. The company, however, lost around $5 billion last year. (Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)