OpenAI, the company behind the groundbreaking AI chatbot ChatGPT, has announced a major update that adds shopping capabilities to the popular virtual assistant. The new feature aims to simplify online shopping by helping users compare prices, view reviews, and access direct links to buy personalized product recommendations all without advertisements.
According to OpenAI, the new shopping tool will allow users to make quicker and more informed purchasing decisions by curating product suggestions that are “chosen independently and are not ads.” The move represents a significant step into the e-commerce space, traditionally dominated by tech giants such as Google and Amazon.
This rollout comes as OpenAI’s search tool continues to gain popularity, reportedly generating over one billion web searches in a single week. While Google still leads the global search market with an estimated 89% share, recent trends suggest its dominance is gradually waning as users explore alternative platforms like ChatGPT.
With this update, OpenAI not only challenges Google in search but also competes directly with media outlets and review websites like the New York Times, which have long been go-to sources for product evaluations. Amazon, for its part, launched a generative AI shopping assistant last year, and other AI startups, such as Perplexity, have also entered the space with similar tools.
The goal, OpenAI said, is to make the shopping experience more streamlined “faster to find, compare, and buy products” especially for users overwhelmed by the vastness of online marketplaces.
This shopping feature is part of a broader update announced on Monday. OpenAI also revealed that users can now text ChatGPT for live sports scores and receive responses with multiple citations for greater transparency and reliability.
The updates signal OpenAI’s ambition to become a one-stop platform for everyday digital tasks—searching, shopping, and staying informed offering users a smarter, more integrated online experience. The new features are rolling out to all users and are expected to be fully available within a few days.
With these enhancements, ChatGPT continues to blur the lines between AI assistant and digital companion, reshaping how people interact with information and commerce online.
