OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Wallet, a new system that allows its AI agents to complete online purchases using tokenized card details. The feature, launched on Friday, is currently available to U.S. ChatGPT Pro users with eligible American Express, Mastercard, or Visa cards. Unlike traditional crypto wallets, ChatGPT Wallet does not hold cryptocurrency or cash balances. Instead, it uses payment tokens generated by card networks to facilitate transactions without exposing users' actual card numbers.
The wallet operates through OpenAI's dots, always-on AI assistants that can browse websites and perform tasks. Users save an eligible card, review the order, and approve the payment via a security check like fingerprint or Face ID. After approval, the card network creates a payment token with substitute card details, which the agent submits through the merchant’s existing checkout system. Users retain applicable card rewards and dispute protections, according to OpenAI.
OpenAI is also expanding its merchant outreach with business profiles that allow companies to update product information and connect with potential customers through ChatGPT. Meanwhile, competitors like Coinbase and Circle are exploring different approaches using stablecoins. Coinbase's Agentic Wallets, launched in February, enable software to spend USDC and pay for online services within preset limits. Circle's Agent Stack, introduced in May, includes stablecoin wallets for payments as small as $0.000001.
OpenAI plans to introduce a feature allowing users to authorize future purchases within spending limits or specified categories, but no timeline has been announced. In the meantime, the company warns that some merchant websites may block shopping agents or flag legitimate Wallet purchases as fraud.