ChatGPT gets a digital wallet that lets AI agents shop on users' behalf

AI company OpenAI has announced a new feature for its chatbot ChatGPT: a digital wallet called "ChatGPT Wallet". It will allow artificial intelligence (AI) agents not only to help users choose products but also to make purchases online on their behalf, in practice by adding the selected item to the shopping cart. At first, the option will be offered only to some adult users in the United States.

Who can use it

For now, the wallet will be available only to US users who are adults, subscribe to ChatGPT Pro and pay with US-issued Visa, Mastercard or American Express cards.

How it works

Users must first add their bank card to the ChatGPT digital wallet. After that, they can ask the AI agent to find a needed product and put it in the cart. Before the purchase, the user can review the chosen item and its price, and the transaction must be confirmed with facial recognition or a fingerprint. This means the agent cannot spend the user's money without their consent.

The real bank card details will not be revealed during payment. OpenAI says the new system will also keep the usual benefits of payment cards, such as the ability to earn loyalty rewards and dispute suspicious transactions. Merchants will receive only the information needed to fulfil the order, such as the delivery address and contact details.

Plans for the future

The company plans to extend the feature with the option to set spending limits and choose product categories in which the AI assistant may buy more freely.