OpenAI announced on Thursday the addition of shopping options to ChatGPT. The new feature allows users, after being redirected to merchant websites from the ChatGPT interface, to search for and purchase products. The update is for all users, whether or not they have an account. Product placement isn’t sponsored.
Adam Fry is the ChatGPT product lead at OpenAI. During a demonstration, Ars Technica showed its sister site Wired the new shopping system. Users who are researching products such as espresso machines or office chair receive recommendations based upon their stated preferences, stored memory, and product reviews found on the internet. Wired says that ChatGPT’s shopping experience is similar to Google Shopping. When users click on an image of a product, the interface displays multiple retailers such as Amazon and Walmart to the right of the screen with buttons for completing purchases. OpenAI is currently testing categories such as electronics, fashion, beauty products, and home goods.
The product reviews displayed in ChatGPT are from a variety of online sources including user forums and publishers. Users can tell ChatGPT which review sources it should prioritize when creating product recommendations. OpenAI provides an example of the ChatGPT Shopping Experience. Openai
ChatGPT, unlike Google’s algorithmic approach to product recommendations reportedly attempts to understand user reviews and preferences in a conversational manner. If someone mentions that they prefer black clothing, from specific retailers, in a chat then the system will incorporate those preferences into future shopping recommendations.
