The payment system Visa has announced a partnership with OpenAI, under which ChatGPT will be able not only to search for products but also to independently place and pay for purchases on behalf of users. To do this, it will be enough to link a bank card and set the parameters for the desired product.
Visa is integrating its payment network with ChatGPT, giving artificial intelligence the ability to complete purchases and conduct transactions on its own.
Previously, OpenAI attempted to develop a similar direction with the Instant Checkout feature introduced at the end of last year. The service allowed ChatGPT to find specific products online and place orders. However, due to fees for sellers, the tool did not gain widespread adoption, and its support was discontinued in March.
The new partnership with Visa aims to solve this problem. Users will be able to link their bank cards to ChatGPT, while sellers will accept payments initiated by AI agents through Visa's infrastructure.
As part of the project, OpenAI will provide technology that enables artificial intelligence agents to analyze requests, make decisions, and initiate purchases. Visa, in turn, will be responsible for payment authorization, data protection, and fraud prevention.
"As AI agents become active participants in the economy, Visa is focused on ensuring trust, security, and seamless transactions," said Visa's Chief Product and Strategy Officer, Jack Forestell.
He cited the example of a user telling ChatGPT that they are looking for wireless headphones costing up to $150. After that, the artificial intelligence will be able to independently select a suitable model and complete the purchase.
At the same time, Visa acknowledges that the transition from recommendations to independent purchases requires a significantly higher level of trust from users. That is why the system will be equipped with additional control mechanisms.
The company promises to implement spending limits, mandatory confirmation steps for transactions, and the ability to make purchases only from approved sellers.
Particular attention is paid to protection against errors and fraud. Banks and retailers are concerned that AI may purchase an unsuitable item or make a purchase for a larger amount than the customer intended. Visa claims that all disputed situations will be handled under the same rules as regular card transactions.
The financial terms of the agreement between Visa and OpenAI have not yet been disclosed. The companies also did not specify what fees will be charged to buyers and sellers.
Meanwhile, Visa's main competitor, Mastercard, is also developing the AI purchasing direction. The company has already announced the implementation of features that allow artificial intelligence agents to acquire services on behalf of businesses. For example, AI will be able to independently order advertising campaigns or web contractor services for companies.
According to Forestell, mass trust in such technologies will not form immediately. At the initial stage, most transactions will likely require mandatory user confirmation, while AI agents will only handle searching, selecting, and preparing purchases.
Experts believe that the integration of payment systems with artificial intelligence could be one of the most important steps in the development of digital commerce. However, the success of this technology will largely depend on how reliably users can be protected from errors, abuses, and fraud.
