OpenAI Ditches Chatbot Shopping Feature

OpenAI has ceased operations for its Instant Checkout feature, a shopping tool integrated into ChatGPT since September 2025. This feature enabled users to buy products from platforms such as Shopify, Etsy, and Walmart directly within the chatbot interface, simplifying the purchasing process. OpenAI stated that the initial version of Instant Checkout did not meet its aspirations for flexibility, and the company intends to shift its focus towards improving product discovery for users.

While Instant Checkout is being retired, users can anticipate enhancements to how they find products. The updated capabilities allow users to upload images for inspiration, receiving suggestions for similar items. These product discovery improvements, including price and review details, are being deployed to all ChatGPT users this week across free, Go, Plus, and Pro tiers. Previous challenges with Instant Checkout reportedly included difficulties in onboarding merchants and inaccurate data regarding shipping and stock availability.