ChatGPT can now spend your money

OpenAI's ChatGPT Wallet lets its AI agents buy for you, with your approval on every purchase.

OpenAI announced ChatGPT Wallet, a payment feature that lets its "dots" AI agents make purchases on behalf of users. It is initially available only to U.S. ChatGPT Pro subscribers aged 18 or older. TechCrunch reports the rollout is limited to a small number of them, who need a U.S.-issued Visa, Mastercard or American Express card.

Users enter card information once, then ask a dot to find or help with a purchase. Before each buy, they review the items, total and card, then approve with a security check such as Face ID or a fingerprint scan. The card is charged using a payment token, so real card details are not shared with the dot or the merchant.

OpenAI built the feature with American Express, Mastercard and Visa, and cardholders keep their existing rewards and protections. OpenAI said it is not taking a cut of transactions to start. Per CNBC, Amazon prevents agents from purchasing on its platform.

Watch for spending limits and category or time-period settings, which TechCrunch reports OpenAI plans to add so users can pre-approve purchases.

The facts we checked

OpenAI announced; according to CNBC, TechCrunch, 9to5Mac and Engadget

1. OpenAI announced ChatGPT Wallet, a payment feature that lets its "dots" AI agents make purchases on behalf of users.Fact · CNBC
2. It is initially available only to ChatGPT Pro subscribers in the U.S. who are 18 or older.Fact · CNBC
3. TechCrunch reports the rollout is limited to a limited number of those Pro subscribers, and that they need a U.S.-issued Visa, Mastercard or American Express card.Reported · TechCrunch
4. Users enter their card information once, then ask their dot to find or help with a purchase.Fact · TechCrunch
5. Before each purchase, the user reviews the items, the total and the selected card, then approves it with a security check such as Face ID or a fingerprint scan.Fact · 9to5Mac
6. Each approval creates a record of the purchase the user authorized.Fact · 9to5Mac
7. The card is charged using a payment token, a substitute for the user's actual card details, so those details are not shared with the dot or the merchant.Fact · TechCrunch
8. OpenAI built the feature in partnership with American Express, Mastercard and Visa. Cardholders keep their existing credit card rewards and protections.Fact · CNBC
9. OpenAI said it is not taking a cut of transactions to start.Fact · CNBC
10. The feature won't work with websites that block agents. CNBC reports that Amazon prevents agents from purchasing on its platform.Reported · 9to5Mac, CNBC
11. OpenAI plans to let users set spending limits and configure purchase categories or time periods, so they can pre-approve purchases that agents handle more autonomously.Reported · TechCrunch
12. "Our goal here is to really focus on merchants and our network partners and start building out a really great foundation that's safe and easy to use," said Chaya Nayak, who leads product for monetization and payments at OpenAI.Quote · CNBC
13. The limited rollout is the "right approach to make sure things are working," said Luke Gebb, executive vice president and global head of innovation at Amex.Quote · CNBC

Sources

• EngadgetYou can now tempt fate and give your banking information to ChatGPT
• TechCrunchChatGPT’s new Wallet lets AI agents shop and check out for you
• 9to5MacOpenAI launches ChatGPT Wallet, enabling ‘dot’ agents to make purchases
• CNBCOpenAI launches ChatGPT Wallet, allowing its 'dots' AI agents to make purchases for users
• OpenAIIntroducing ChatGPT Wallet