OpenAI is taking ChatGPT beyond product research and recommendations with a new payment feature. The company has launched ChatGPT Wallet, giving AI agents a way to purchase items on users’ behalf. The system uses payment tokens instead of exposing actual card details, while requiring users to approve every purchase.

ChatGPT Wallet brings payments to AI shopping

OpenAI says ChatGPT Wallet is designed to make agent-led shopping more secure. Users add a payment card once, then review and approve purchases without repeatedly entering their payment information. Before a transaction goes through, users can check the selected items, total price, and payment card. They must then complete a security check, such as Face ID or fingerprint authentication.

Once approved, the payment network generates a token containing substitute card details. This includes a card number, security code, and expiration date. The business and AI agent do not receive the user’s actual card details.

OpenAI says eligible purchases will retain existing card rewards and protections for qualifying disputes. Users also continue to transact directly with businesses. This means merchants remain responsible for pricing, delivery, returns, and customer service. The company is working with American Express, Mastercard, and Visa to support the system.

OpenAI wants businesses ready for agent-led shopping

OpenAI says 1.2 billion people use ChatGPT every week. Many already use it to research products, compare prices, and decide what to buy. ChatGPT Wallet takes that experience further by allowing agents to complete purchases.

The company is also publishing a Commerce Partner Playbook for businesses. It explains how merchants can make product information available, allow ChatGPT agents to access their websites, and prevent legitimate agent purchases from being rejected.

OpenAI is working with payment providers, including Adyen, Checkout.com, and Stripe. It is also partnering with fraud prevention companies such as Forter, Riskified, Sardine, and Signifyd.

ChatGPT Wallet availability and what’s coming next

ChatGPT Wallet starts rolling out today through OpenAI’s Dots service. Initially, it is limited to ChatGPT Pro subscribers aged 18 and older in the United States. Users also need eligible US-issued payment cards.

Interestingly, OpenAI has bigger plans for agent-led payments. The company eventually wants users to delegate purchases entirely to AI agents. Users could set spending limits, shopping categories, and time restrictions before approving transactions under additional safeguards.

That being said, every purchase still requires explicit user approval during this initial rollout. OpenAI hasn’t announced a wider availability timeline.