OpenAI ChatGPT Instant Checkout: Buy from Etsy & Shopify

OpenAI is taking a major step into AI-powered e-commerce with its new Instant Checkout feature in ChatGPT, allowing U.S. users to purchase directly from Etsy and soon millions of Shopify merchants like Glossier, SKIMS, Spanx, and Vuori — all within the chat interface.

This new feature marks a shift toward agentic commerce, where AI acts as an intermediary to facilitate seamless product discovery, recommendation, and payment.

How Instant Checkout Works

Previously, ChatGPT could suggest products, show images, reviews, prices, and links. With Instant Checkout:

• Users tap “Buy” in ChatGPT to confirm orders.
• Payment options include Apple Pay, Google Pay, Stripe, or credit card.
• Orders are processed through the merchant’s systems; ChatGPT acts as a secure intermediary.
• Currently supports single-item purchases, with multi-item support planned in the future.

OpenAI stresses that product results are organic and unsponsored, ranked purely on relevance, with merchants paying only a small fee per completed purchase.

Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP)

Instant Checkout is powered by the Agentic Commerce Protocol, co-developed with Stripe. ACP is now open-sourced, enabling other developers and merchants to integrate agentic shopping into their platforms.

Stripe calls this development a major step in “building the economic infrastructure for AI,” enabling new AI-powered shopping experiences.

Why This Matters

• Reshapes e-commerce power dynamics: AI agents could shift influence from Google and Amazon to platforms like ChatGPT.
• Frictionless shopping: Users no longer need to leave the conversation to complete purchases.
• Wider adoption: Open sourcing ACP allows developers and merchants to implement agentic checkout, expanding OpenAI’s role in AI commerce.

OpenAI’s move follows similar initiatives from Perplexity and Microsoft Copilot, but positions ChatGPT as a centralized AI shopping agent capable of handling both discovery and payment.

FAQs

Q1: What is OpenAI’s Instant Checkout?
A: It’s a feature in ChatGPT that allows users to purchase items from Etsy and Shopify directly within the chat interface.

Q2: Who can use Instant Checkout?
A: U.S.-based users on ChatGPT Free, Plus, and Pro accounts.

Q3: How are payments processed?
A: Payments are handled securely by merchants via Stripe, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or credit card. ChatGPT acts as an intermediary.

Q4: Are product results in ChatGPT ads?
A: No. OpenAI states that results are organic and unsponsored, ranked solely by relevance.

Q5: What is the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP)?
A: ACP is the technology powering Instant Checkout. It is open-sourced, allowing other developers and merchants to integrate agentic shopping into their systems.

Q6: Which merchants are supported currently?
A: Initially, U.S.-based Etsy sellers, with millions of Shopify merchants coming soon.