ChatGPT’s Leap into E-Commerce

ChatGPT now enables in-chat product browsing and purchasing.

OpenAI teams up with Visa for seamless, secure payments.

Launch categories include fashion, beauty, home décor, and electronics.

OpenAI foregoes commissions, focusing on user convenience.

A New Chapter for Conversational AI

Conversational AI has moved beyond simple Q&A and creative writing—ChatGPT is now a shopping assistant. On May 1, 2025, OpenAI unveiled a collaboration with Visa to integrate payment processing directly into ChatGPT. By linking stored payment credentials, users can discover and buy products without leaving the chat.

From Chat to Cart

When you ask for recommendations—say, the best noise-cancelling headphones—ChatGPT displays product cards complete with images, specs, and prices. A single tap on “Buy Now” initiates checkout through Visa’s network, which handles authorization, settlement, and fraud protection behind the scenes. OpenAI makes it clear: no commissions, no affiliate fees—just frictionless transactions.

Retailers and Reach

Initially covering key consumer segments like fashion, beauty, home décor, and electronics, the feature will expand over time. Brands provide inventory via API, making their catalogs searchable through natural-language queries. For retailers, this opens a direct channel to engage customers; for shoppers, it turns ChatGPT into a one-stop shop.

Building Confidence

Trust is essential. Visa stores payment details, not OpenAI, and every purchase requires explicit user confirmation. ChatGPT presents full order info—pricing, shipping, and return policies—before any payment is processed. By avoiding commissions, OpenAI aims to ensure recommendations remain unbiased and transparent.

The Road Ahead

If embraced by consumers, ChatGPT could transform online shopping: impulse buys via conversation and deep product comparisons through follow-up queries. Success will hinge on maintaining transparency and security as ChatGPT ventures into retail.