OpenAI has partnered with e-commerce giants Shopify and Etsy to integrate a new "Instant Checkout" feature directly into ChatGPT. This groundbreaking collaboration allows users to purchase products from millions of Shopify merchants and Etsy sellers without leaving their chat conversations, marking a significant shift towards AI-powered commerce.
Key Takeaways
- Users can now buy directly from Etsy sellers within ChatGPT, with over a million Shopify merchants to follow soon.
- The "Instant Checkout" feature enables seamless purchases without redirects, aiming to simplify the online shopping experience.
- OpenAI is introducing the "Agentic Commerce Protocol," an open-source standard for AI-driven transactions.
- This move represents a new revenue stream for OpenAI and a new sales channel for merchants.
Seamless Shopping Within Conversations
Shopify merchants will soon be able to sell their products directly through ChatGPT conversations. This integration means shoppers can discover and purchase items without navigating away from their chat interface. "No links or no redirects, just seamless commerce," stated Shopify on its website, highlighting the frictionless nature of the new system. This feature is initially available for U.S. ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and free users, with plans to expand to multi-item carts and more regions.
A New Revenue Frontier for OpenAI
This partnership opens up a significant new avenue for OpenAI to generate revenue, leveraging the vast user traffic on ChatGPT. Merchants will pay a fee on completed purchases to OpenAI, though this will not impact product prices for consumers. The "Instant Checkout" feature itself is free for users.
Empowering Merchants with Agentic Commerce
Shopify emphasizes that this integration keeps merchants in control. Their store names will be clearly displayed, and orders will flow directly into their Shopify admin. Merchants remain the "merchant of record," retaining ownership of the shopper relationship and control over whether customers use Instant Checkout or their own online store. OpenAI is also open-sourcing the "Agentic Commerce Protocol," developed with payments firm Stripe, to encourage broader adoption of AI-driven commerce.
Future of Shopping
Experts believe that AI-powered shopping presents substantial opportunities for online marketplaces. As AI becomes a more integrated part of decision-making, this partnership positions Shopify merchants to be present at the point of discovery and purchase. The goal is to allow entrepreneurs to focus more on their products and customers, while Shopify handles the technical complexities of selling through AI conversations.
Sources
- OpenAI partners with Etsy, Shopify on ChatGPT payment checkout, Reuters.
- OpenAI's ChatGPT now lets users buy from Etsy, Shopify in push for chatbot shopping, AP News.
- Shopify and OpenAI bring commerce to ChatGPT, Shopify.
- Shopify merchants will soon be able to sell products through ChatGPT, CBC.
- Buy it in ChatGPT: Instant Checkout and the Agentic Commerce Protocol, OpenAI.
