OpenAI Adds Secure Shopping to ChatGPT App

OpenAI has launched a new shopping capability inside the ChatGPT Android app, powered by its Agentic Commerce Protocol and built in partnership with Stripe. This feature allows users in the U.S. to purchase items directly from within the chatbot interface, starting with Etsy listings and expanding to millions of Shopify merchants in the near future. To use Instant Checkout, users simply type a shopping prompt—like “Find me a Star Wars poster under $100”—and ChatGPT returns a curated list of products. Listings with a “Buy” button are eligible for Instant Checkout. Tapping “Buy” opens a secure checkout screen where users can confirm payment details, using either their saved subscription payment method or an alternative option. Once confirmed, the order is placed, and users receive a confirmation email from the merchant. Purchases can be reviewed later under Settings > Orders. Currently, Instant Checkout supports only one item per transaction, but OpenAI plans to introduce multi-item carts and expand merchant support in the coming months. Importantly, ChatGPT handles only the checkout process—post-purchase interactions like shipping updates or refunds are managed directly by the seller. OpenAI emphasizes user control and privacy, noting that all payment tokens are encrypted and data sharing is minimal. While Etsy is the primary supported platform for now, users can still search across other merchants, though results may link out to external sites without Instant Checkout integration. This feature marks a major step toward conversational commerce, with future updates expected to enhance search accuracy and expand global availability.