How to Use ChatGPT Shop 2025 (OpenAI Shopping GPT)

The introduction of ChatGPT shop changes how people interact with AI for commerce. Instead of leaving the app to complete a purchase, users can now discover, select, and buy products directly in the chat. This new OpenAI shopping GPT capability creates a frictionless loop between search, recommendation, and checkout. As Instant Checkout grows beyond its first U.S. rollout, it could transform ChatGPT into a powerful competitor to e-commerce marketplaces and search engines alike. Image Credit: Open AI

At a glance

• Feature name: Instant Checkout (embedded in ChatGPT shop).
  
  
• Availability: U.S. users, Etsy at launch, Shopify soon.
  
  
• Capabilities: Buy directly in chat, single-item only.
  
  
• Fees: No extra cost to buyers; merchants pay OpenAI commission.
  
  
• Discoverability: Product suggestions are algorithmic, not paid ads.
  

How to Use ChatGPT Shopping

Understanding how to use shopping GPT is simple once you know the prompts that trigger the feature. When you type in a query like “buy me running shoes under $150” or “shop for holiday gifts,” ChatGPT recognizes the buying intent and surfaces product options in a carousel format. Some of these listings will allow you to complete the purchase directly through Instant Checkout, while others will redirect you to the merchant’s website. Either way, the process keeps shopping fast, visual, and integrated inside the chat.

• Use clear buying-intent prompts such as “buy,” “shop,” or “order.”
  
  
• Browse the product carousel for images, prices, and reviews.
  
  
• Complete purchases in-chat via Instant Checkout, or click out to the seller’s page if needed.

1) How product discovery works

Before Instant Checkout, ChatGPT already offered shopping discovery features. When a user typed queries like “best headphones under $200,” the system displayed product carousels with images, pricing, and links. This was the foundation of shopping GPT, helping people explore without sifting through dozens of search results. Importantly, these recommendations are not ads, but algorithmically surfaced items based on relevance and availability (OpenAI Help).

• Results include product photos, reviews, and prices.
  
  
• Selections are algorithmic, not paid promotions.
  
  
• Non-partner products still link externally.
  
  

2) What Instant Checkout adds

Instant Checkout, launched in September 2025, is the real turning point for ChatGPT shop. Instead of simply suggesting products, ChatGPT can now facilitate the full buying journey without leaving the chat. At launch, this feature supports Etsy sellers in the U.S., giving users the ability to browse and purchase from independent merchants inside the same conversation window. This first wave sets the stage for a wider rollout that will soon include Shopify merchants, unlocking millions of new listings across categories (Reuters).

• U.S. Etsy merchants are the first to integrate.
  
  
• Shopify merchants are next in line for expansion.
  
  
• Future updates will support global rollout.
  

3) Who can use it and where

For now, Instant Checkout is limited to a specific group of users and merchants, but the roadmap is broader. Every U.S.-based ChatGPT user—whether on Free, Plus, or Pro—can access this shopping integration when browsing eligible products. Merchants must opt in through Etsy or, soon, Shopify to connect their inventory to OpenAI’s checkout system. As adoption grows, this restriction is expected to loosen, making shopping GPT a global feature with far more sellers onboard (Reuters).

• Available to Free, Plus, and Pro users in the U.S.
  
  
• Etsy is live now; Shopify is coming soon.
  
  
• Wider international availability is planned.
  

4) Checkout mechanics and user experience

The checkout process is designed to feel seamless and safe, matching user expectations for convenience and security. Once you click the “Buy” button next to an eligible product, you confirm shipping and payment details directly in the chat interface. Payments are processed through Stripe, ensuring industry-standard encryption and fraud protection. Unlike one-click shopping on traditional platforms, each transaction requires explicit confirmation from the user to reduce errors and accidental purchases (PYMNTS).

• Tap “Buy,” confirm shipping, and payment details in-chat.
  
  
• Transactions processed securely via Stripe.
  
  
• Users must confirm each purchase—no autopay.
  

5) OpenAI’s monetization strategy

For OpenAI, the ChatGPT shopping is more than a user convenience—it’s a new business model. While users don’t pay extra, merchants give OpenAI a commission on completed transactions. This creates a fresh revenue stream that complements subscription plans like ChatGPT Plus and Pro. By blending AI-driven search with commerce, OpenAI positions itself as both a discovery engine and a retail channel, taking a cut from the very transactions it helps enable (Financial Times).

• Merchants pay commission; buyers pay no extra fees.
  
  
• Opens a new revenue stream for OpenAI beyond subscriptions.
  
  
• Positions ChatGPT as a hybrid AI + commerce platform.
  

6) Current limitations

Like any new rollout, the shopping GPT feature has limitations in scope and capability. Multi-item carts aren’t supported yet, meaning each transaction is single-product only. It’s also restricted to the U.S. market at launch, leaving international users to rely on external merchant links. These constraints are likely temporary as OpenAI fine-tunes infrastructure and scales partnerships (Reuters).

• Single-item purchases only, no carts yet.
  
  
• U.S.-only availability at launch.
  
  
• External links still common for non-partner products.
  
  

7) Tips for users to maximize ChatGPT shop

To get the most from the new OpenAI shopping features, it helps to use intentional prompts and be aware of current limitations. Clear phrases like “buy me” or “find the best under $X” help ChatGPT understand your shopping intent. Checking for Instant Checkout buttons ensures you can complete a purchase in-chat, while keeping your payment and shipping details updated saves time. Until multi-item carts arrive, testing with single products is the best way to experience the system (OpenAI Help).

• Phrase queries with buying intent (“Buy me…,” “Best under $50”).
  
  
• Look for Instant Checkout-enabled listings.
  
  
• Keep payment and shipping info current.
  
  
• Test with single items for smoother experience.
  

Shop Your Essentials with AI

The introduction of ChatGPT shop and OpenAI shopping through Instant Checkout marks a turning point in how AI interacts with commerce. ChatGPT is no longer just a conversational assistant but an emerging retail channel, merging search, recommendation, and checkout into one experience. Over time, as global rollout, multi-item carts, and more merchant integrations arrive, ChatGPT could become one of the most influential shopping platforms in digital retail.

FAQ

Is ChatGPT shop available worldwide?‍

Not yet. Instant Checkout is limited to U.S. users and Etsy sellers at launch, with Shopify support and international expansion planned (Reuters).

Can I buy multiple products in one transaction?‍

No, current functionality supports single-item purchases only. Cart functionality is expected in future updates (Reuters).

Do users pay transaction fees?‍

No. Buyers don’t pay extra; OpenAI earns revenue by charging merchants a commission on sales (Financial Times).

Are the product suggestions ads?‍

No, product suggestions are algorithmic based on relevance, not sponsored placements (OpenAI Help).

How is payment processed?‍

Payments are handled via Stripe with encrypted tokens and user confirmation at each step, ensuring safety and transparency (PYMNTS).