OpenAI Adds Shopping Features to ChatGPT Search

Highlights

• OpenAI has updated ChatGPT search to provide product suggestions, images, reviews and direct buy links.
• The shopping feature is powered by structured third-party data, with no ads or commissions.
• OpenAI may explore affiliate fees in the future.
• Pro and Plus users will soon get memory-based shopping, trending searches and WhatsApp integration.

Caption – Shopping features are now on ChatGPT. (Image credit – OpenAI)

OpenAI has updated its ChatGPT search tool to make online shopping easier and more personalised, the company announced recently.

Now, when you search for products in ChatGPT, it will suggest a few options, show images and reviews, and give you direct links to buy them. You can ask very specific questions in plain language and get tailored results. For now, the feature is being tested in categories like fashion, beauty, home goods, and electronics.

The update is rolling out in GPT-4o, the default model for ChatGPT. It is currently available to Pro, Plus, Free, and even logged-out users around the world.

This move is part of OpenAI’s effort to offer a better way to find products online and compete with Google, which has long dominated online shopping searches. OpenAI believes ChatGPT can deliver a more personal and less ad-heavy experience.

According to OpenAI, users made over a billion web searches in ChatGPT just last week. The company says the new shopping feature is powered by structured data from third-party sources like product descriptions, pricing, and reviews. Importantly, there are no ads or paid placements involved right now, and OpenAI doesn’t earn any commission from purchases made through ChatGPT.

Although OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has traditionally opposed ads in ChatGPT, he recently told Stratechery’s Ben Thompson that he’s now open to “tasteful” advertising, possibly through affiliate fees without letting companies pay for better search placement.

Pro and Plus users will soon also get memory-based shopping. That means ChatGPT will remember your previous chats and use them to recommend products just for you. This memory feature is already used more broadly in search, but it won’t be available in the EU, U.K., Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein due to regulatory restrictions.

ChatGPT search is also getting trending searches, similar to Google’s autocomplete. This means you can see what others are looking up when you start typing. And now, you can even use ChatGPT search in WhatsApp by messaging the chatbot directly.

Previously, OpenAI tested shopping features through its AI “agent” platform called Operator, which took longer to find products. The new ChatGPT search with shopping is much quicker and allows users to search in a more interactive, natural way.’

FAQs

Q1. What new shopping features has OpenAI added to ChatGPT?

Answer. OpenAI has updated ChatGPT search to provide product suggestions, images, reviews, and direct buy links, making online shopping more interactive and personalized.

Q2. Does ChatGPT shopping search include ads or paid placements?

Answer. No, the feature does not include ads or commissions for purchases. OpenAI may explore affiliate fees in the future but won’t allow companies to pay for placement.

Q3. What additional features are coming to ChatGPT shopping search?

Answer. Soon, Pro and Plus users will get memory-based shopping, trending searches, and WhatsApp integration, though some regions face regulatory restrictions.

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