ChatGPT Wallet lets AI agents buy items with your approval

OpenAI launches ChatGPT Wallet

OpenAI has announced ChatGPT Wallet, a payment feature that works with its newly released Dots AI agents. According to Engadget, the feature lets these agents make purchases for users, which means handing payment information to a chatbot.

Users enter their card details once. After that, the agents can shop and collect items to buy, but a person must confirm every final purchase.

How the security checks work

OpenAI has built several safeguards into the system. Each purchase requires a security check, such as a Face ID scan or a fingerprint, in a similar way to Meta Muse. The company says this approval creates a clear record of the purchase, which could help if a transaction is disputed later.

Shops never see the real card number. Instead, they receive a payment token, a stand-in for the actual card details. OpenAI also states that agents pay without direct access to the card itself.

Card partners and rewards

OpenAI has partnered with American Express, Mastercard and Visa for the programme. The company says cardholders keep their existing credit card rewards points and protections when buying through the agents.

Chaya Nayak, who runs product work on monetisation and payments at the company, told CNBC that the focus is on merchants and network partners, and on building a foundation that is safe and simple to use.

No fees for now

OpenAI is not taking a share of purchases made through the system at the moment. Engadget notes this could keep prices low in the short term, though the feature may well become a source of revenue for the company later. That future monetisation is speculation, not a confirmed plan.

A mixed reception for shopping agents

AI agents that shop on their own have run into resistance. Engadget reports that several companies, including Delta, United Airlines and Amazon, ban purchases made by these agents. The report suggests Amazon's move may reflect competition as much as caution, though that is the publication's view rather than a confirmed fact.

For users, the main question is trust. OpenAI has added approval steps and tokenised payments to reduce risk, but anyone enabling the feature is still letting software handle their money. Readers who want the details should check OpenAI's own announcement before adding card information.