OpenAI is taking another step toward making artificial intelligence more useful in everyday life. The company has introduced a new ChatGPT Wallet feature that allows its AI agents to help users find products, make purchasing decisions, and complete online transactions on their behalf.

Announced on Friday, the feature is designed to make online shopping easier by reducing the number of steps users need to complete a purchase. Instead of manually searching for products and going through the entire checkout process, users can ask their ChatGPT agent, called a dot, to help with shopping and handle the transaction.

However, OpenAI is not giving AI agents complete freedom to spend money. Users will remain in control and must approve purchases before payments are completed.

At launch, the feature will be available to a limited group of ChatGPT Pro subscribers in the United States who are at least 18 years old and have an eligible U.S.-issued Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card.

How Does the New ChatGPT Wallet Work?

The new ChatGPT Wallet is designed to simplify the purchasing process through AI-powered assistance.

Users first need to add an eligible payment card to their ChatGPT Wallet. This is a one-time setup, meaning they will not need to enter their payment details every time they want to purchase something.

Once the payment method is connected, users can ask their dot to help find a product or make a purchase.

The AI agent can assist with product selection and prepare the order. Before the payment is processed, users can review important details, including:

  • The products they want to purchase.
  • The total amount they need to pay.
  • The payment card selected for the transaction.

After reviewing these details, users must authorize the purchase through a security verification method, such as Face ID or fingerprint authentication.

This additional approval step ensures that the AI agent cannot independently complete a payment without the user’s authorization.

OpenAI Uses Payment Tokens to Protect Card Details

One of the important aspects of the new Wallet feature is how OpenAI handles payment information.

When a user completes a purchase, ChatGPT Wallet uses a payment token instead of directly sharing the actual card details with the AI agent or the merchant.

A payment token is a substitute for sensitive card information that allows a transaction to take place without exposing the original payment credentials.

The merchant receives the information required to process and deliver the order, such as the customer’s shipping address and contact details.

OpenAI also says that customers will continue to receive their regular credit card rewards and retain protections generally associated with card payments, including the ability to dispute transactions.

Why Is OpenAI Entering the AI Shopping Market?

The introduction of ChatGPT Wallet reflects a growing interest in agentic AI, a technology that allows AI systems to perform tasks rather than simply respond to questions.

Until recently, most AI assistants were primarily used for answering queries, generating content, and providing recommendations. AI agents are designed to take things further by completing multi-step activities with less manual effort.

Online shopping is one area where this technology could make a significant difference.

Instead of visiting multiple websites, comparing products, and manually entering payment information, users could eventually rely on AI agents to handle much of the process.

OpenAI is not the only company exploring this opportunity.

Meta’s Muse has reportedly attracted more than 10 million users, with shopping becoming one of the popular activities on the platform. Meanwhile, companies such as DoorDash and Uber have also been experimenting with AI-assisted ordering and booking.

However, the adoption of AI agents for completing real-world transactions is still developing.

OpenAI Plans More Shopping Controls for Users

The current version of ChatGPT Wallet is only the beginning of OpenAI’s plans for AI-powered shopping.

The company wants to introduce additional controls that would allow users to decide how much independence their AI agents should have when making purchases.

Future features could include:

  • Spending limits: Users may be able to establish maximum spending amounts for AI-assisted purchases.
  • Purchase categories: Users could decide which types of products their agents are allowed to buy.
  • Time-based permissions: Users may be able to configure purchasing permissions for specific periods.
  • Pre-approved purchases: AI agents could eventually complete certain transactions automatically within limits set by users.

These improvements could make AI-powered shopping more convenient while giving customers greater control over their spending.

Retailer Restrictions Could Become a Challenge

Although AI-powered shopping has significant potential, not every retailer is ready to welcome automated purchasing agents.

Some major online retailers have introduced restrictions to prevent external AI agents from accessing or interacting with their websites.

Amazon is one of the notable examples. The company has been focusing on its own AI shopping assistant, Alexa, rather than allowing outside agents to freely interact with its shopping platform.

This creates a challenge for OpenAI because its AI agents need cooperation from retailers to complete purchases across different online stores.

To address this issue, OpenAI has also published a Commerce Partner Playbook. The resource provides guidance and tools for retailers interested in making their platforms compatible with AI-assisted shopping.

The goal is to encourage more businesses to support transactions initiated through ChatGPT and its AI agents.

What Does ChatGPT Wallet Mean for the Future of Online Shopping?

The launch of ChatGPT Wallet signals a shift in how people may interact with online shopping platforms in the coming years.

Instead of using AI only to discover products or compare prices, consumers could increasingly depend on AI agents to manage the complete purchasing process.

However, security, user trust, retailer compatibility, and payment authorization will play important roles in determining how quickly this technology becomes mainstream.

For now, OpenAI is starting with limited availability in the United States to test the feature and improve its capabilities before a wider rollout.

If the service proves successful, AI agents could eventually become digital shopping assistants that help people research products, select the right options, and complete purchases with minimal effort.

The bigger question is whether consumers will feel comfortable allowing AI to handle more of their everyday financial transactions.