OpenAI has introduced a payment wallet that allows its ChatGPT agents, known as dots, to help users select products and complete purchases, expanding the company’s push into AI-powered shopping and automated consumer transactions.
The feature, launched on Friday, will initially be available to a limited group of US ChatGPT Pro subscribers aged 18 and above who hold US-issued Visa, Mastercard, or American Express cards.
The new ChatGPT Wallet allows users to save an eligible payment card and authorize their AI agent to handle shopping tasks without having to enter payment information each time they make a purchase.
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OpenAI said users will retain control over transactions because they can review the selected products, total cost, and payment card before checkout. Purchases will also require a security confirmation, such as Face ID or fingerprint authentication, creating a record of the transaction.
The launch marks a move beyond using AI assistants to search for products, compare prices or recommend purchases. OpenAI is attempting to give its agents the ability to complete the transaction as well, bringing product discovery and payment into a single process.
The company is entering a market where technology firms are testing whether consumers are willing to delegate more routine shopping decisions to AI systems. While the convenience of automated purchasing could attract users, the commercial opportunity will depend on whether agents can identify suitable products, handle payments securely, and work across a sufficiently large network of retailers.
How ChatGPT Wallet Handles Payments
To use the service, eligible subscribers first add their payment cards to ChatGPT Wallet. They can then ask a dot to assist with a purchase, with the agent helping identify what to buy before proceeding to checkout.
OpenAI said the wallet uses payment tokens to charge the selected card. A token substitutes for the user’s actual card details, meaning the payment information is not shared directly with the AI agent or the merchant.
The merchant receives the information required to fulfil the order, including the customer’s shipping address and contact details, according to OpenAI.
Users will also retain access to benefits associated with their payment cards. These include credit card rewards and protections such as the ability to dispute transactions. The approval process is designed to keep the user involved at the point of payment. Rather than allowing the agent to complete purchases without confirmation, the system requires users to review the transaction and authenticate it through a security check.
OpenAI plans to introduce additional controls that could allow users to delegate more purchasing decisions over time. These may include spending limits, restrictions on product categories, and rules governing purchases during specific periods.
Such controls would allow users to establish conditions in advance, potentially enabling their agents to complete approved transactions with less direct involvement. The company has not yet made those expanded controls available.
The initial rollout is limited, giving OpenAI an opportunity to test the wallet and improve its capabilities before a broader launch. The company also wants to expand the number of retailers that support purchases initiated through its agents.
AI Companies Compete for a Place in Online Shopping
OpenAI’s move comes as consumer-facing AI companies search for commercially viable ways to turn conversational assistants into services that handle everyday tasks.
The early results across the industry have been mixed. Companies such as DoorDash and Uber have reported relatively low numbers of orders placed through AI agents, suggesting that consumers have not yet widely adopted automated ordering.
Meta has reported a different pattern with its Muse assistant, which has more than 10 million users. AI-assisted shopping has become one of the leading activities on the app, indicating that some consumers are already using conversational AI to explore purchasing options.
Other personal AI agents, including Instinct, also offer purchasing capabilities, adding to competition over the emerging agentic commerce market.
For OpenAI, integrating payments into ChatGPT could make shopping a more complete use case for its AI products. Instead of directing users to separate websites after recommending an item, the agent can help carry the process through to payment.
However, expanding this capability will require cooperation from retailers. AI agents need access to product information, pricing, stock availability, and checkout systems to complete transactions reliably. Retailers that restrict automated access could limit the usefulness of the service.
Amazon presents a significant obstacle. The retailer has blocked AI agents from using its website as it seeks to direct customers towards its own AI assistant, Alexa. Such restrictions could prevent third-party agents from accessing product listings or completing purchases on some major shopping platforms.
To encourage retailers to support agent-led transactions, OpenAI has published a Commerce Partner Playbook containing tools and guidance for businesses that want to accommodate customers shopping through AI agents. The document is part of a broader effort to establish the infrastructure needed for AI-driven commerce, where software agents interact with retailers on behalf of consumers.
The commercial stakes go beyond payment processing. If AI agents become a common starting point for shopping, they could influence how consumers discover products, compare competing offers, and decide which retailers receive their business. Retailers will therefore have to consider how to remain visible and accessible when customers increasingly rely on software to make purchasing decisions.