OpenAI adds a payment wallet so ChatGPT agents can complete purchases

OpenAI has launched a wallet feature for ChatGPT that allows its AI agents, which the company calls dots, to help users choose products and then pay for them, TechCrunch reports. At first the feature is limited to a small number of ChatGPT Pro subscribers in the United States who are at least 18 and hold a U.S.-issued Visa, Mastercard or American Express card.

How payments are handled

Users add an eligible card to ChatGPT Wallet once and then ask their agent for help with a purchase. Card details are not passed to the agent or to the store. Instead, the wallet charges the card through a payment token that stands in for the real card number. The merchant gets the order details it needs, such as a delivery address and contact information, from the agent.

OpenAI says the user stays in charge of each transaction. Before checkout, the buyer sees the items, the total and the card that will be charged, and then confirms the purchase with a biometric check such as a fingerprint or face scan, which also creates a record of the transaction. According to the company, card rewards and standard protections, including the right to dispute a charge, still apply.

Plans and obstacles

OpenAI describes the limited launch as a way to test and refine the feature before a wider release. Planned additions include spending limits and rules based on purchase categories or time periods, which would let users pre-approve some purchases so the agent can handle them with less supervision.

Expanding to more stores may be harder. Some retailers block AI agents from their sites, and TechCrunch notes that Amazon is the largest of them, as it points shoppers toward its own assistant, Alexa. To encourage adoption, OpenAI has released a Commerce Partner Playbook with tools and guidance for retailers that want to serve customers who shop through agents.

The move comes as consumer AI companies look for practical uses. Results so far are mixed. Delivery and ride services have reported few orders placed by agents, while AI-assisted shopping has become one of the main activities on Meta's Muse app.

What it means for internet users

For people who follow online tools and services, the launch shows AI assistants moving from giving advice to completing transactions. Anyone thinking of using such features will want to look at how payment data is protected, what confirmation steps are required and whether the stores they use allow agents at all. Online sellers may also need to decide whether to support automated shoppers or block them.