OpenAI, the developer of the generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT, is seeking new revenue streams. On July 16 (local time), the Financial Times (FT) reported that OpenAI is working on integrating a payment system into ChatGPT to collect fees from online product sales.
According to several sources familiar with the matter, OpenAI plans to integrate a payment system into ChatGPT, allowing users to purchase products directly within the platform. In this process, sellers would pay a fee to OpenAI.
The payment feature is still in the development stage. Currently, OpenAI displays products within ChatGPT, recommending them based on the context of the user's questions, relevance, and budget. When users click on a product link, they are redirected to external online retailers. In April, OpenAI announced a partnership with e-commerce company Shopify. According to sources, OpenAI is in discussions with Shopify and others regarding revenue sharing and related matters.
Currently, OpenAI's main source of revenue is subscriptions to the ChatGPT premium service. If OpenAI is able to take a portion of sales revenue from transactions within ChatGPT, it will be able to generate income from free users who were previously not monetized. The company aims to leverage ChatGPT's vast user base to create new revenue streams beyond subscription income.
FT assessed that the integration of a payment system into ChatGPT represents a strategic shift for OpenAI. The report also analyzed that this move could pose a threat to the business model of search giant Google. As more consumers use AI chatbots like ChatGPT instead of traditional search engines when searching for products, the frequency of Google search engine usage could decline.
Because the purchasing feature is still under development, details may change. OpenAI declined to comment on FT's inquiries, and Shopify did not respond.
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