OpenAI launches ChatGPT Wallet, letting AI agents pay for purchases

OpenAI has introduced a new shopping feature called 'ChatGPT Wallet', allowing its AI agents to search for products, offer personalised purchasing recommendations and facilitate payments on behalf of users.

The new feature will enable ChatGPT's AI agent to handle almost the entire shopping process based on user instructions. However, users will retain control over purchases, with final approval required before any transaction is completed.

OpenAI announced the service on Friday (November 13). According to technology news outlet TechCrunch, the feature has initially been rolled out to a limited number of ChatGPT Pro subscribers in the United States. It is available to users aged 18 or older who have an eligible payment card issued in the US by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. The service can be accessed through OpenAI's AI agent, 'Dots'.

Under the new system, users first add a supported bank card to their ChatGPT Wallet. They can then instruct the Dots agent about the products they need. The agent will search for suitable items, compare available options and assist with the subsequent steps of the purchase. Once a card has been added, users will not need to enter their payment details again for every transaction.

However, no purchase can be completed without the user's consent. Before payment, users will be able to review the product being purchased, the total cost and the card that will be charged. They must then authorise the transaction using security features such as Face ID or fingerprint authentication. A record of every authorised purchase will also be maintained.

One of the key features of ChatGPT Wallet is its use of payment tokenisation technology. Instead of sharing the user's actual card number, security code and expiry details, the system uses an alternative digital token to process payments. This means neither the AI agent nor the seller can access the user's original card details during a purchase.

The AI agent will also provide sellers with the necessary delivery address and contact information to ensure products reach customers. OpenAI said purchases made through the system will retain the usual benefits of credit cards. These include rewards earned through card transactions and the ability to dispute certain charges where applicable.

At the initial stage, users must directly approve every purchase. However, OpenAI plans to give AI agents greater autonomy in handling shopping tasks in the future. Users will be able to set spending limits, specify product categories and establish timeframes in advance. Within those predefined conditions, the AI agent could complete purchases independently.

Meanwhile, OpenAI has published a guide called the 'Commerce Partner Playbook' to encourage online retailers to participate in AI-powered shopping. It includes technical guidelines and tools to help e-commerce businesses make their products searchable and transactions accessible through AI agents.

However, expanding AI-powered shopping also faces challenges. Some online retailers are restricting AI agents' access to and activities on their websites. Major retailer Amazon is also blocking such shopping activities, preferring to encourage customers to make purchases through its own AI assistant, Alexa.

Competition in the AI-powered shopping market is also intensifying. Companies such as DoorDash and Uber have said that orders placed through AI agents still account for a relatively small share of their services. Meanwhile, shopping has emerged as one of the popular activities among users of Meta's 'Muse' AI service.

Against this backdrop, OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Wallet as part of its efforts to strengthen its position in the emerging market for AI-assisted shopping through personal AI agents.