OpenAI Launches Shopping Research Tool to Enhance Consumer Experience

Abilene, Texas — OpenAI Inc. introduced a new tool called “shopping research” on Monday, designed to assist consumers in finding well-researched shopping guides as the holiday season approaches.

The shopping research tool, available to users of ChatGPT, helps users explore products tailored to their needs. It generates detailed guides that include top products, key differences, and current retail information based on user-defined criteria, including budget and specific product features.

Users can initiate the shopping research by typing prompts, such as, “Find the quietest cordless stick vacuum for a small apartment,” and an automated interface will guide them through a quiz-like process. This interaction gathers vital context about their preferences, such as color and size requirements, allowing ChatGPT to recommend suitable options.

OpenAI claims that the tool refines its results in real-time by gathering user feedback on presented items. After answering several questions, users receive a buyer’s guide that outlines product comparisons, specifications, pricing, and reviews.

As part of its recent drive into e-commerce, OpenAI also launched a feature in September enabling purchases directly through ChatGPT. The shopping research tool will eventually be integrated with Instant Checkout, streamlining the purchasing experience for users.

OpenAI clarifies that the results generated by the shopping research tool are based on organic information from publicly available retail websites. Importantly, the company assures users that it will not share their chat data with retailers. However, it cautions that there may be inaccuracies in product availability and pricing.

The tool is rolling out for all logged-in ChatGPT users across Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans. OpenAI aims to provide nearly unlimited access to shopping research during the holiday shopping period, enhancing the consumer experience.

The company plans to actively refine the model to improve its capability to identify trustworthy reviews while remaining compliant with web access rules.