OpenAI plans to add a shopping experience to ChatGPT by adding an integration for Shopify, an e-commerce platform. TestingCatalog noticed proof of it in the new code strings of ChatGPT’s public web bundle, “buy_now”, price, and shipping fields, product-offer ratings, and a “shopify_checkout_url”.
The report mentions that the code spotted suggests a formal tie-up for integrating a native experience, rather than an unofficial one.
The integration should allow users to shop while talking to their favourite chatbot seamlessly. ChatGPT users may not need to jump to external sites, and access it as a shopping app. The report also pointed out that the feature is already live among the production assets, suggesting that the release of the feature is imminent.
Netizens on X have mixed reactions to the report. Some believe that things like this could help ChatGPT become more than just a chatbot, but an all-in-one app.
Some expressed, “OpenAI went from chasing AGI to chasing Shopify carts? We were promised AI that could reshape civilisation. Instead, we got a chatbot upselling tote bags and protein powder.”
A couple of years back, OpenAI introduced plugins to try to integrate such functionalities, but then killed it. There were security concerns regarding plugins, including prompt injection attacks and the deployment of malicious payloads through third-party integrations.
Considering developers were not so happy with the decision, OpenAI seems to be working with companies directly to integrate their services natively on ChatGPT.
Lately, Shopify has been bullish about AI usage in its organisation and is encouraging its employees to embrace it to ensure continued success. Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke, in a post on X, shared an internal memo, titled ‘Reflexive AI usage is now a baseline expectation at Shopify’. It emphasised that teams seeking to increase headcount must justify why AI cannot fulfil the required tasks.
Perplexity and Microsoft have already done the same with ‘Buy with Pro’ and the Copilot Merchant Program, respectively. So, it is likely that ChatGPT is attempting to add a shopping experience to the chatbot.
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