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Sam Altman-led OpenAI is preparing to take a share of sales from products recommended through ChatGPT. This move signals the company’s first serious step into the e-commerce space. It aims to convert the AI chatbot into a revenue-generating platform, especially from its free user base.
In April, OpenAI partnered with Shopify, a leading checkout solutions provider. Shopify’s technology may soon enable users to buy products directly within ChatGPT. The same system already powers shopping on platforms like TikTok.
When users purchase items directly inside ChatGPT, OpenAI will collect a commission from merchants. Brands are already reviewing early versions of this feature, and while financial terms are still being discussed, the direction is clear, ChatGPT will soon serve as a retail gateway.
OpenAI’s recent memory enhancements allow ChatGPT to remember users’ preferences, offering more personalized product recommendations. These suggestions consider factors like user budget and relevance. Although the chatbot model is currently not capable of sorting listings based on price or shipping.
Consumers are increasingly using AI chatbots to discover and purchase products. This new ChatGPT upgrade will be in direct competition with the business model of Google Search. OpenAI may attract brands and consumers away from search engines towards conversational AI models.
Although the project is in its early stages, the Sam Altman-led company and Shopify are actively showcasing the technology to potential brand partners. The revenue model and checkout flow are still subject to change. Although the effort reveals OpenAI’s ambition to go beyond subscriptions and enterprise licensing.
For the AI company, this is a huge shift away from the traditional model of monetization through subscriptions. OpenAI is moving from a utility-based product to a revenue-generating one. It is trying to unlock new forms of value and create the commercial viability of ChatGPT in the rapidly changing AI environment. The initiative is both bold and strategic. It remains to be seen if it pays off in the long run or backfires.
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