ChatGPT is preparing to integrate e-commerce. OpenAI teams up with Shopify to launch native checkout for direct sales and commissions

After weeks of rumors, concrete details have emerged: OpenAI is ready to turn ChatGPT into a platform that not only recommends products, but also lets users buy and pay directly within the interface. The aim is clear: to open a new stream of revenue, challenging traditional monetization models for online search.

ChatGPT is moving from a tool for assistance to a channel for direct sales.

In recent days, news of e-commerce integration within ChatGPT has spread rapidly across financial and technology media. The scoop—first from the Financial Times, then Reuters and specialist sites—reveals that OpenAI is in advanced negotiations with Shopify. The plan is to embed a native checkout system, so users can finalize purchases without leaving their AI chat.

Up until now, ChatGPT was focused on search, digital assistance, or creative generation. The upcoming shift is significant: the platform could now accompany users all the way from discovering a product to completing a transaction, making every purchase request—from a review to a personalized recommendation—seamless and integrated, with no need to exit the app.

The new integrated checkout system will let users buy directly inside ChatGPT.

Early reports describe an interface where a product suggested by the AI can be purchased through a built-in checkout, without being redirected to a third-party website. The Shopify partnership promises a vast merchant network and secure payments, but OpenAI is also reportedly exploring integration with other e-commerce providers.

OpenAI’s business model is clear: the company will collect a commission on every purchase completed through ChatGPT, adding a recurring revenue stream beyond its subscriptions and business APIs. The proprietary payment system will support multiple methods and currencies, further boosting reach and convenience.

OpenAI’s strategy is to redefine how online search can generate revenue.

With this move, OpenAI aims to be a more active player in the digital sales pipeline—not just an information intermediary, but a true facilitator of conversions, monetizing each commercial interaction managed by the platform. It’s a direct answer to the global trend of AI shopping assistants, which are already changing how users discover and buy products online.

If this experiment succeeds, ChatGPT could become the first major conversational AI to directly generate revenue through e-commerce sales. This could mark a turning point not just for OpenAI, but for the entire online search and shopping sector.

The first reactions highlight both opportunities and unresolved concerns.

The announcement has already fueled debate among analysts and industry players. Some see this commercial evolution as a huge opportunity for merchants and payment platforms. Others raise concerns over privacy, the neutrality of AI recommendations, and possible antitrust issues.

So far, there are no official details about launch dates or if and when the service will become available outside the United States. One thing is certain: direct monetization through e-commerce is shaping up to be the next big test for artificial intelligence in the world of search and digital assistance.

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