Highlights
- OpenAI introduces Stripe-powered Instant Checkout via ChatGPT, enabling users to buy products directly during chat-based discovery.
- It is available to U.S. ChatGPT users across Free, Plus, and Pro tiers, starting with Etsy sellers.
- Shopify merchants will join soon with global expansion planned.
OpenAI has rolled out Instant Checkout inside ChatGPT, marking its first major step into AI-powered shopping. The feature is powered by the Agentic Commerce Protocol and integrated with Stripe, making it possible for users to purchase products directly within the chat interface.
According to OpenAI, more than 700 million people use ChatGPT weekly for tasks such as product discovery, and Instant Checkout aims to streamline the process from browsing to buying. Announcing the feature, OpenAI wrote, “ChatGPT already helps millions of people find what to buy. Now it can help them buy it too. We’re introducing Instant Checkout in ChatGPT with @Etsy and @Shopify, and open-sourcing the Agentic Commerce Protocol that powers it, built with @Stripe, so more merchants and developers can integrate agentic checkout.”
ChatGPT already helps millions of people find what to buy. Now it can help them buy it too.
We’re introducing Instant Checkout in ChatGPT with @Etsy and @Shopify, and open-sourcing the Agentic Commerce Protocol that powers it, built with @Stripe, so more merchants and developers… pic.twitter.com/9miGZr1Yn7
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) September 29, 2025
Agentic Commerce Protocol Explained
The Agentic Commerce Protocol has been open-sourced by OpenAI, giving merchants and developers the tools to build integrations. Co-developed with Stripe and leading retail partners, the protocol is secure, platform-agnostic, and simple to deploy. It represents a new era of agentic commerce, where ChatGPT not only helps users discover products but also facilitates the final purchase.
With this system, users can move from conversation to checkout in just a few taps, while merchants maintain complete control over payments, fulfilment, and customer relationships.
How Instant Checkout Works?
When users ask for recommendations such as “best running shoes under $100” or “gifts for a ceramics enthusiast,” ChatGPT surfaces relevant results from across the web. These listings are organic, unsponsored, and ranked only by relevance.
If an item is available for Instant Checkout, users can tap “Buy,” confirm order details, shipping, and payment information, and complete the transaction without leaving the chat.
Subscribers can pay using saved cards or other supported payment methods.
Merchants continue to process orders, payments, and fulfilment using their existing systems. ChatGPT acts only as a secure intermediary, sharing the minimal data required. Merchants are charged a small fee for successful transactions, while users pay no extra cost. Importantly, product ranking remains unaffected by payments.
What makes this secure –
- Users must explicitly confirm each purchase.
- Payments are encrypted and authorised for specific amounts and merchants.
- Only essential data is shared to finalise the order.
Merchant Integration
For businesses, enabling Instant Checkout is straightforward. Merchants already using Stripe can turn on agentic payments with just one line of code. Those relying on other processors can still participate via Stripe’s Shared Payment Token API or the Delegated Payments Spec in the Agentic Commerce Protocol, without altering their current systems.
Availability
Instant Checkout is currently rolling out to U.S. ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Free users, starting with direct purchases from U.S. Etsy sellers. Soon, more than one million Shopify merchants, including major names like Glossier, SKIMS, Spanx, and Vuori, will also be onboarded.
Instant Checkout is now rolling out to US ChatGPT Pro, Plus and Free logged-in users buying from US Etsy sellers, with over 1 million Shopify merchants coming soon.
Merchants interested in joining can learn more and apply here: https://t.co/Vzg7pg2Und
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) September 29, 2025
At launch, the feature supports single-item purchases with multi-item carts and support for more regions coming in future updates. Merchants who wish to make their products available through ChatGPT can apply directly via the official site.
FAQs
Q1. What is Instant Checkout in ChatGPT?
Answer. Instant Checkout lets users buy products directly within ChatGPT, powered by the Agentic Commerce Protocol and integrated with Stripe for secure payments.
Q2. How does the Agentic Commerce Protocol benefit merchants?
Answer. It’s an open-source, platform-agnostic system that allows merchants to integrate checkout with minimal effort, while retaining full control over payments and fulfilment.
Q3. Who can use ChatGPT Instant Checkout and where is it available?
Answer. It’s currently rolling out to U.S. ChatGPT Free, Plus, and Pro users, starting with Etsy sellers, with Shopify merchants joining soon and global expansion planned.