Would you trust an AI agent to make purchases online on your behalf? AI companies are hoping you will.
However, many e-commerce and financial service companies are skeptical of the technology and have blocked AI agents from using their platforms.
On Friday, OpenAI launched a new product called ChatGPT Wallet that appears to be an attempt to address that skepticism.
According to OpenAI, ChatGPT Wallet will let AI agents make purchases for users without sharing their credit card information each time. In addition, “security checks” are required for every purchase an AI agent makes. This entails a human user manually reviewing and approving every purchase.
“Users add a card once, then approve each purchase without re-entering their payment details,” according to ChatGPT. “Before each purchase, the user reviews the items, total, and selected card, then approves it with a security check such as Face ID or a fingerprint scan.”
Instead of revealing credit card information to vendors, ChatGPT said it will purchase items using a payment token that serves as a substitute for the actual card’s details.
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Additionally, ChatGPT Wallet users can still take advantage of card rewards programs and purchase dispute protections while utilizing ChatGPT Wallet.
Most notably, OpenAI says that ChatGPT partnered with the big three credit card companies — American Express, Mastercard, and Visa.
Rolling out AI shoppers has been a bumpy process
E-commerce giant Amazon notably blocked AI agents, such as Meta’s Muse, from accessing its platform in September due to security concerns. Banks like JPMorgan Chase followed suit and also blocked Muse and other AI agents. And, just this week, United Airlines blocked AI agents from booking flights due to similar security concerns.
In addition to launching ChatGPT Wallet with major credit card company partnerships, OpenAI is releasing “tools and guidance” for businesses to encourage support for shopping AI agents.
OpenAI seems to want to build trust among retailers and financial institutions first, as the company says it plans to allow users to delegate purchases entirely to their AI agents while adhering to a set list of rules and parameters.
ChatGPT Wallet rolls out today in dots, OpenAI’s AI agent platform, for users with a ChatGPT Pro subscription in the U.S.
However, as OpenAI notes, ChatGPT Wallet is very much in a trial stage as it analyzes how businesses respond to AI agents making purchases. In addition, ChatGPT Wallet will not work with websites that block AI agents.
