Key Takeaways
- OpenAI is adding shopping features to ChatGPT’s web search tool.
- Users can ask for specific products and get recommendations with images, reviews, and direct purchase links.
- The feature is rolling out globally on the GPT-4o model for all users, including free tiers.
- Initially focused on fashion, beauty, home goods, and electronics.
- Results are currently independent and not influenced by ads or affiliate fees.
- This move positions ChatGPT as a competitor to Google for product discovery.
OpenAI is making its ChatGPT search tool smarter about shopping. The company announced an update that helps you find and learn about products directly within the chat interface.
Now, when you ask ChatGPT about items you might want to buy, it can show you specific recommendations. You’ll see pictures, summaries of reviews, and links to websites where you can make a purchase.
You can ask detailed questions using everyday language, like “find me a durable blue backpack for hiking under $100,” and ChatGPT aims to provide tailored suggestions.
For now, OpenAI is testing this with product categories like fashion, beauty, home goods, and electronics.
This new shopping capability is being added to GPT-4o, the standard model for ChatGPT. It’s available starting now for subscribers (Plus, Pro) and free users, even if you’re not logged in.
This update puts ChatGPT in more direct competition with Google, especially for online shopping searches, a major part of Google’s business.
OpenAI emphasizes that its shopping results are generated independently. According to TechCrunch, the company stated that ads are not part of this upgrade, and it won’t earn commissions from purchases made via these links currently.
Results are built using data from third parties, including pricing and product details. While CEO Sam Altman previously opposed ads, he has recently indicated openness to “tasteful” affiliate links in the future, without selling top spots in results.
Soon, OpenAI plans to connect its ‘memory’ feature to shopping for paid users. This means ChatGPT could remember your past conversations to offer even more personalized product ideas. However, this memory integration won’t be available in the EU, UK, and several other European countries.
Other small updates include showing trending searches as you type, similar to Google’s autocomplete, and making ChatGPT search available via WhatsApp messages.
This new shopping feature offers a quicker way to find products using natural language compared to OpenAI’s previous, more time-consuming ‘agent’ explorations.
