OpenAI Unveils Autonomous ChatGPT Agent and Payment Integration, Eyes E-Commerce Expansion
OpenAI Accelerates AI Evolution with New ChatGPT Features
OpenAI has taken a significant leap forward in the AI landscape by launching an autonomous agent feature for its premium ChatGPT users and by initiating the development of a built-in payment checkout system. These moves are set to diversify the company’s revenue and firmly position ChatGPT in the booming e-commerce market.
ChatGPT Agent: Beyond Conversations
The autonomous ChatGPT agent is now rolling out to Pro users, who subscribe to the premium $200 per month tier. This next-generation feature enables the AI to act beyond conventional chatbot boundaries. The new agent can independently access web and app services, handling complex tasks such as creating presentations, conducting deep research on the internet, and analyzing entire code repositories through advanced GitHub integrations.
OpenAI’s vision is clear, as Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil noted: “This is the year ChatGPT goes from answering questions for you to doing things for you in the real world.” Early adopters have already experienced functionalities like booking travel and placing grocery orders, thanks to the research preview of the agent, codenamed “Operator.” Its “deep research” capability now empowers users with comprehensive, multi-step research that completes in minutes what typically takes humans hours.
In-App Payment Checkout: Seamless E-Commerce on ChatGPT
Alongside agent rollouts, OpenAI is developing an integrated payment system directly inside ChatGPT. This feature aims to streamline online purchases and keep users within the ChatGPT interface, eliminating the need to navigate external shopping sites. Merchants fulfilling orders through the planned payment system will be charged a commission—setting the stage for a new revenue stream beyond subscriptions.
The payment integration is being constructed quietly in partnership with Shopify, which was officially acknowledged as a third-party search provider in OpenAI’s documentation as of May 15, 2025. Early versions of the system have been showcased to select brands. Currently, ChatGPT only suggests products via external links; the impending update would keep transactions fully contained within the platform.
Financial Context: Revenue Soars, Losses Persist
Despite reporting an impressive $10 billion annualized revenue run rate by June 2025, OpenAI posted losses of around $5 billion last year. The new payment feature seeks to unlock ChatGPT’s vast commercial potential, capitalizing on its 400 million weekly active users as of February 2025.
Industry insiders note that this bold initiative could set OpenAI up as a direct competitor to retail giants such as Amazon and Google. Retail consultant Brittain Ladd describes the game plan as transforming ChatGPT into “a full-funnel shopping tool.” While the checkout system is still in development, it signals OpenAI’s ambition to become a major player in the digital commerce ecosystem.
What’s Next for OpenAI and ChatGPT?
The timeline for public release of the new agent and payment system remains unclear. Still, these features symbolize a monumental shift: ChatGPT will not only answer users’ questions, but will also take real-world actions and facilitate seamless purchases from discovery to checkout—all within the chat interface.
OpenAI’s aggressive innovations underscore its efforts to leverage AI as a catalyst for both technological and commercial disruption, signaling a promising era for AI-driven commerce and productivity.
