New Delhi, Nov 14: OpenAI is taking ChatGPT beyond conversations and product recommendations, introducing a digital wallet that will allow its AI agents to complete purchases on behalf of users, subject to their approval.

The feature, called ChatGPT Wallet, has been developed in collaboration with American Express, Mastercard and Visa. It allows users to securely register their payment cards and authorise transactions without exposing their actual card details to AI agents.

Under the system, users will be shown the products they intend to purchase, along with the final bill and the payment method selected. A transaction can proceed only after the user approves it through an authentication method such as Face ID or fingerprint verification.

Once the approval is received, the payment network creates a secure token to process the transaction. This token substitutes the user's original card information, ensuring that sensitive financial details are not directly shared with the AI agent or the merchant.

OpenAI said the arrangement would operate through existing payment infrastructure while allowing eligible customers to retain applicable card benefits and protections. Retailers, meanwhile, will continue to handle pricing, deliveries, returns and customer support.

The launch has drawn support from the three major payment networks, which see AI-driven transactions as an emerging area for digital commerce.

American Express executive vice-president and head of global innovation Luke Gebb said the integration would allow eligible cardholders to make purchases through the platform while retaining control over reviewing and approving payments.

Mastercard executive vice-president and global head of digital commercialisation Sherri Haymond stressed that AI-led purchases must maintain the security and trust associated with conventional payment systems.

Visa's head of global growth, Rubail Birwadker, said the adoption of agent-led commerce would depend on consumers, businesses and financial institutions having confidence in the technology.

The service is being introduced initially to ChatGPT Pro subscribers aged 18 and above in the United States who hold eligible US-issued cards. OpenAI plans to use feedback from this limited rollout to improve the system's reliability and compatibility before making it available more widely.

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The company said ChatGPT is used by around 1.2 billion people every week, with a significant number relying on the platform to explore products, compare alternatives and make purchasing decisions. The wallet is intended to bring the actual payment process into that experience.

OpenAI has also introduced a Commerce Partner Playbook to help businesses adapt their websites and payment infrastructure for purchases initiated by AI agents.

Its efforts include partnerships with fraud-prevention companies such as Forter, Riskified, Sardine and Signifyd, alongside payment service providers including Adyen, Checkout.com and Stripe.

Looking ahead, OpenAI plans to introduce more advanced purchasing capabilities that would allow users to delegate transactions to AI agents by establishing spending caps, permitted product categories and specific time limits, with additional security measures in place.

The development signals OpenAI's broader ambition to turn ChatGPT into a platform that can not only help people decide what to buy but also assist them in completing purchases. (With ANI inputs)