ChatGPT users will soon have a new way to buy products using the generative artificial intelligence bot, thanks to a partnership between PayPal and OpenAI.

PayPal, which also owns the payment platform Venmo, announced Tuesday that it will embed its digital payment wallet into ChatGPT starting next year.

That means when users search for a product using the AI chatbot, they will have the option to complete their purchase using PayPal. Shoppers will also be given a "Pay Another Way" option, allowing them to pay using a credit or debit card or bank account.

Alex Chriss, president and CEO of PayPal, said in a statement that the OpenAI and PayPal partnership will help people "go from chat to checkout in just a few taps."

The deal, reported first by CNBC, will also provide tens of millions of PayPal merchants — spanning apparel, fashion, beauty, home improvement and electronics — a new space to do business.

"This integration will make millions of products discoverable and purchasable through ChatGPT," PayPal said in its statement.

As of the end of 2024, the financial technology company had 434 million active consumer and merchant accounts.

OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Agentic commerce
The company also announced Tuesday that it will launch a feature called "Agent Ready" in early 2026. The new tool will let consumers purchase items from existing PayPal merchants on other AI-driven platforms, such as Google and Perplexity.

The dual announcements underscore how PayPal is gravitating toward agentic commerce in an effort to meet shoppers wherever they are in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape.

On PayPal's earnings call Tuesday, Chriss noted the company's belief that consumer behavior is shifting gradually toward agentic commerce. "PayPal is building for that future," he said.

For OpenAI, the deal marks another step forward in its plans for e-commerce expansion. Last month, the technology company announced that users would be able to make Etsy and Shopify purchases directly on ChatGPT using a feature dubbed "Instant Checkout."

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