OpenAI's new ChatGPT Wallet lets its AI agents pay for purchases
Users approve every purchase with Face ID or a fingerprint, and OpenAI says the agent never sees the real card details. It starts with US ChatGPT Pro subscribers.
By Robert Harrison ·
Why it matters: OpenAI is moving into payments alongside the big card networks, but it isn't taking a cut yet, and some merchants, including Amazon and United, are shutting AI agents out.
For information only, not investment advice. Prices delayed.
Nothing gets bought without the user's sign-off: they review the items, the total and the card, then approve with Face ID or a fingerprint.1 OpenAI built the wallet with American Express ($AXP), Mastercard ($MA) and Visa ($V), and it's starting with ChatGPT Pro subscribers in the US who are 18 or older and have eligible US-issued cards.41
The company told CNBC it is not taking a cut of transactions to start, though the purchases could eventually become a new revenue stream.2 "Our goal here is to really focus on merchants and our network partners and start building out a really great foundation that's safe and easy to use," said Chaya Nayak, who leads product for monetization and payments at OpenAI.2
The pitch is that the agent never sees your card. After you approve, the payment network issues a payment token, a stand-in card number, security code and expiration date, so neither the agent nor the store gets the real details.1 OpenAI calls it the first wallet that works that way while keeping card rewards and protections for eligible disputes.1
Wallet doesn't work in ChatGPT's regular Chat or Work modes or in standalone Codex threads.3 Not every store wants agents, either: United Airlines said Wednesday it will block them from booking tickets, and Amazon prevents them from buying on its platform.2
Over time, OpenAI expects users to hand purchases entirely to their agent within limits they set, such as a spending cap, purchase categories or time periods.1 It's also working with payment companies including Stripe, Adyen and Checkout.com so their systems can recognize legitimate purchases made by agents.1
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Tags: ai · fintech