Chatgpt has become one of the most used digital search and consultation tools in the world. Around 700 million people use it to receive support in tasks such as restaurant recommendations, travel planning, shopping lists and many other functions. Among them, There is also the search for products. More and more users ask artificial intelligence to suggest purchase options within their budget and evaluate which is the best alternative.
With its latest update in the United States, the platform has taken another step: Now users can make purchases without leaving chatgpt. When the tool shows a product of interest, the option to pay it directly from the chat appears.
How does “Instant Checkout” work within Chatgpt?
When a user asks something as “better shoes for less than 100 USD,” Chatgpt continues to do what he already knows how to do: show relevant products according to availability, price and quality.
If the product admits instant checkout, The user will see a “buy” button. By pressing it, you can confirm shipping address and payment method transparently within the chat. It doesn’t matter if you are a chatgpt plus customer, pro or free user: it can be paid by card or enter a new method.
The commercial agent
Behind this innovation is the Agentic Commerce Protocolan open standard created next to Stripe, An Irish and American multinational, and collaborating stores, so that artificial intelligence agents and shops cooperate in the purchase process.
This protocol allows Chatgpt acts as a safe intermediary: Send the minimum data necessary to process the order, trade processes payment with its usual system and handles shipping and support. Thus, The store is still “the owner” of the client.
Advantages, risks and questions that are open
The obvious advantage for the user is fluidity: less steps and less friction to buy what you are looking for. For shops, a window opens to hundreds of millions of users without having to completely redesign their systems.
However, questions about the Data privacyCompetitiveness between small and large stores, possible recommendation biases, and the role that ChatGPT will occupy in front of e-commerce giants.
In addition, the initial implementation is limited: For now they only allow purchases of a single item in the US. The plans are to expand towards multiple items, more businesses and geographical regions.