So, like, OpenAI just dropped the bomb today that ChatGPT is gonna let you buy stuff soon. Crazy, right? You’ll be able to shop through ChatGPT using AI-powered search queries, whether you have an account or not. But hold up, you can’t check out right there in ChatGPT – you’ll get redirected to the merchant’s website to finish the deal.
In a sneak peek for WIRED, Adam Fry, the big shot at OpenAI behind ChatGPT search, showed off how the new and improved user experience can help folks research products like espresso machines or office chairs. The product suggestions you see are based on what ChatGPT knows about your tastes and reviews it finds online.
Fry spilled the tea that ChatGPT users are already going crazy with over a billion searches a week, diving into all kinds of shopping categories like beauty, home goods, and electronics. For example, when looking for the best office chairs, ChatGPT even linked WIRED’s buying guide. Pretty neat, huh?
The shopping setup in ChatGPT is kinda like Google Shopping. You click on a chair you like, and bam, you see multiple retailers like Amazon and Walmart with buttons to buy. But here’s the kicker – the stuff you see in ChatGPT isn’t paid ads, it’s all organic, baby. Fry made it clear, “They are not ads. They are not sponsored.”
So, how does ChatGPT know what to recommend? Fry spilled the beans that it’s all about personalization and conversation, not just keywords. If you mention you only wear black clothes, ChatGPT will remember that and suggest shirts that match your vibe.
The reviews you see in ChatGPT come from all over the web, from editorial publishers like WIRED to user forums like Reddit. Fry even mentioned that users can tell ChatGPT which reviews to focus on when picking out products.
Now, here’s where it gets juicy – how will affiliate revenue work in ChatGPT? If ChatGPT suggests a chair that got a thumbs up from WIRED, do they get a cut? Fry played it cool, saying they’re still figuring that out. Making sure their recommendations are on point is their main goal for now.
OpenAI has some big dreams for cash flow, aiming for $125 billion in revenue by 2029. But how much will affiliate revenue play into that? Fry didn’t give a straight answer, saying they’re all about the user experience first. Gotta walk before you can run, right?
This isn’t OpenAI’s first rodeo in the shopping game. Their AI agent, Operator, can take control of browsers for tasks like grocery shopping or booking vacations. Other AI search players like Perplexity and Google are also dipping their toes in the shopping pool.
In a world where AI is taking over, ChatGPT is making shopping easier than ever. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll all be buying our groceries through a chatbot. But for now, let’s see how this new shopping feature shakes things up.
