OpenAI Prepares a ChatGPT Wallet for AI Agent Purchases

Key Takeaways

1OpenAI is preparing a ChatGPT wallet to enable AI agents to make purchases on behalf of users, initially for Pro subscribers in the United States.

2Access requires biometric verification and card tokenization by American Express, Mastercard, and Visa, without exposing actual card numbers.

3A guide is published to help merchants accept transactions from agents, as competitors like Anthropic, Meta, xAI, Google, and Perplexity already offer integrated payments.

Why it matters : OpenAI is looking to catch up in AI agent payments while addressing technical and security barriers for merchants.

OpenAI is planning a ChatGPT wallet for agents to make online payments on behalf of users, initially for Pro subscribers in the United States. The company describes biometric authentication and tokens issued by Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, without transmitting actual card numbers to merchants. A guide for merchants aims to reduce current bot blocks, as rivals like Anthropic, Meta, xAI, Google, and Perplexity already offer integrated shopping experiences.

Rivals Already in Service and a Gap to Close

Several companies already provide AI agent shopping. Anthropic's Claude Duet, Meta's Muse, and xAI's Grok Bot integrate payments and partially use single-use cards via Stripe Link. Google and Perplexity also offer the ability to purchase through Google Pay and Instant Buy. OpenAI thus finds itself in a position to catch up on payment features for AI agents.

Merchant Obstacles and a Playbook to Navigate Them

Many websites and several payment systems continue to block access to AI agents or reject their purchase attempts for security-related reasons. OpenAI provides a Commerce Partner Playbook that details how merchants can adjust their firewalls, share product information, and work with partners like Stripe, Adyen, and Riskified to authorize purchases made by agents.

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A Limited Launch, with Biometric Verification and Tokenization

The ChatGPT wallet will initially be available to Pro subscribers in the United States, via Dots. To use it, one must be of legal age, have a ChatGPT Pro subscription, and possess an eligible U.S. credit card. Users add their card only once, and each payment requires biometric verification such as Face ID or a fingerprint. Card numbers are never transmitted to merchants: American Express, Mastercard, or Visa instead generate a payment token with its own security code. OpenAI clarifies that card rewards and standard banking protections for eligible disputes remain applicable.

Shopping Journey and Technical Integration Announced

After abandoning Instant Checkout, deemed too rigid, OpenAI describes a journey where the user adds their card once, then views the selected items, total amount, and card used before each purchase. The purchase begins with the user describing their need, with ChatGPT then searching for options on the open web, via APIs, or product feeds from merchants. The finalization occurs either in the browser on the merchant's site or through a plugin that supports structured actions like cart management. OpenAI claims that the agent can manage the entire process autonomously, while merchant sites integrate via a browser or plugin, with the ChatGPT wallet ensuring payment and authentication. OpenAI also plans to allow users to fully delegate their purchases to their agents, within defined spending limits, categories, and timelines.