OpenAI Is Quietly Turning ChatGPT Into a Shopping Cart
The Breakdown
First it showed you product suggestions.
Now it might let you buy them directly inside the app.
OpenAI is reportedly working on a built-in checkout system for ChatGPT, moving beyond links to retailers and into full-blown transactions within the chat window.
If it rolls out, it could turn ChatGPT into an all-in-one shopping experience.
Research, reviews, recommendations, and purchase, all without opening a single tab.
And that’s not just a convenience play.
It’s a direct challenge to Google, Amazon, and anyone else who profits from how you search and shop online.
The Details
What’s changing:
Right now, ChatGPT shows product suggestions with links to outside retailers. With this new system, you’d be able to check out inside ChatGPT, no redirect required.
The business model:
OpenAI would collect sales commissions from partner retailers, similar to affiliate revenue, except without ever leaving the platform.
Key moves behind the scenes:
OpenAI announced a partnership with Shopify in April
They hired Fidji Simo, former Instacart CEO, in May
Early versions of the system have already been demoed to potential partners
Why You Should Care
This marks a huge shift in how OpenAI plans to make money.
BUT… This isn’t just about making money. It’s about owning the entire commerce funnel. Discovery, comparison, decision, purchase—all inside one interface.
So far, its revenue has come mostly from premium subscriptions.
But now, it’s going after commerce, and doing it in a way that threatens both Google’s search ad empire and Amazon’s marketplace dominance.
ChatGPT could evolve from an AI assistant into a full-blown transactional operating system… guiding, suggesting, and closing the loop all in one place.
Enjoying Artificially 🤖 Intelligent?
Get the latest AI insights, breakdowns, and strategies delivered straight to your inbox.
Subscribe now and stay ahead of the curve.