ChatGPT Is About to Handle Your Checkout Too
Imagine chatting with an AI that not only recommends products — but lets you buy them on the spot. That’s the direction OpenAI is headed, as it begins testing a new in-chat payment checkout system for ChatGPT. First reported by the Financial Times, this feature is currently being piloted in collaboration with Shopify, marking a shift from passive AI assistance to active digital commerce.
This new test phase allows users to complete purchases directly within a ChatGPT conversation, with OpenAI taking a small commission for every transaction. It’s a notable move in the race to monetize AI, and one that could reshape how we interact with chatbots forever.
From Discovery to Delivery — Without Leaving Chat
Previously, ChatGPT could suggest products, but users had to visit external sites to buy them. With this experimental feature, the chatbot could become a one-stop interface for shopping — from suggestion to purchase.
Shopify is a natural partner for the trial. The company already works with OpenAI on product discovery tools, leveraging AI to streamline e-commerce search. Now, their partnership is leveling up — simplifying the buyer journey while embedding commercial activity directly into the chat interface.
The AI Monetization Race Is Heating Up
OpenAI isn’t alone in looking for sustainable income from high-cost AI models. The company has invested billions into training and infrastructure, and while premium plans like ChatGPT Plus generate revenue, scalable features like integrated payments could open up new profit centers.
At the same time, competitors are pursuing other monetization strategies. Anthropic, for example, just released a finance-focused tool using its Claude AI models — aimed at helping professionals analyze markets and make investment decisions. Whether through commerce or enterprise tools, everyone’s chasing the same goal: turning AI power into financial return.
Why This Matters for Fintech and AI Alike
This trial could signal a larger shift in the role of conversational AI. No longer just a helper, ChatGPT could soon be a revenue-generating engine — for itself and for merchants. For fintech, it’s a new channel for payments. For AI, it’s a milestone in utility. If successful, in-chat checkout could become the blueprint for how we shop, interact, and transact in a digital-first future.