SAN FRANCISCO — Artificial intelligence developer OpenAI has introduced a payment feature termed ChatGPT Wallet, engineered to permit its autonomous agents to finalize online purchases directly on behalf of consumers. Developed in collaboration with major financial networks such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, the initial rollout is restricted to U.S.-based ChatGPT Pro subscribers aged 18 and older possessing eligible cards.
Operating exclusively within interactions involving the company's autonomous agents rather than standard chat interfaces, the system requires users to review order summaries and totals prior to authorization. Final approval mandates biometric verification, including facial recognition or fingerprint scans. Upon authentication, the designated payment network generates a secure, transaction-specific token containing a scoped card number, expiration date, and security code, ensuring neither merchants nor the AI agents view the primary account details.
According to leadership at OpenAI, the infrastructure aims to establish a secure and accessible foundation for digital commerce while preserving standard cardholder rewards and dispute protections. Merchants retain traditional responsibilities regarding order fulfillment, delivery, and returns. Although OpenAI is not levying transaction fees during the initial launch phase, the capability represents a prospective avenue for future monetization.
The deployment positions the platform alongside competing commerce protocols developed by industry rivals and stablecoin-based payment tools. Meanwhile, several major retailers, such as Amazon and United Airlines, currently restrict automated agents from accessing their platforms. OpenAI indicated plans to introduce pre-approved spending limits, designated time windows, and category restrictions in future updates, though specific deployment timelines remain unconfirmed.