PayPal and OpenAI Partner to Launch Instant Checkout Inside ChatGPT, Ushering in a New Era of Conversational Commerce
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PayPal has announced a landmark partnership with OpenAI that will allow users to pay for products directly inside ChatGPT starting in 2026, using the payment giant’s digital wallet and merchant network.
The integration will leverage OpenAI’s new “Instant Checkout” feature in combination with the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP), enabling millions of ChatGPT users to shop and check out within conversations seamlessly, securely, and in real time.
According to PayPal, the collaboration will not only allow consumers to make instant purchases but also open a powerful new sales channel for merchants. Through PayPal’s ACP server, tens of millions of small businesses and leading global brands will be able to connect their product catalogs to ChatGPT, effectively turning OpenAI’s chatbot into an intelligent marketplace.
“Hundreds of millions of people turn to ChatGPT each week for help with everyday tasks, including finding products they love, and over 400 million use PayPal to shop,” said Alex Chriss, President and CEO of PayPal. “By partnering with OpenAI and adopting the Agentic Commerce Protocol, PayPal will power payments and commerce experiences that help people go from chat to checkout in just a few taps for our joint customer bases.”
The integration embeds PayPal’s full suite of payment capabilities into ChatGPT’s interface. Shoppers will be able to complete transactions using their preferred funding methods including bank accounts, PayPal balances, or cards while benefiting from the company’s hallmark protections, such as buyer and seller guarantees, post-purchase tracking, and dispute resolution.
On the backend, PayPal will support OpenAI’s Instant Checkout through its delegated payments API, handling card payment processing, merchant routing, and payment orchestration. The setup eliminates the need for merchants to individually integrate with ChatGPT, providing a single compliant access layer to PayPal’s global merchant ecosystem.
This means that when a user asks ChatGPT for “a new pair of running shoes” or “the best home coffee machine,” they will be able to browse real products, compare options, and pay instantly without leaving the chat.
The move represents one of the most significant steps toward conversational commerce, where discovery, decision-making, and transactions occur in the same AI-driven interface. Analysts say it could reshape online shopping by reducing friction and boosting conversion rates through intelligent, personalized interactions.
In addition to the commerce integration, PayPal is deepening its use of OpenAI’s technology internally. The company will expand access to ChatGPT Enterprise for its 24,000+ employees, empower developers with Codex for AI-assisted programming, and scale adoption of OpenAI APIs across its product teams.
The partnership signals how AI and fintech are converging to create new forms of digital engagement. By embedding payments into the very flow of conversation, PayPal and OpenAI are redefining what it means to “shop online” turning chat into checkout.
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