PayPal has announced a major partnership with OpenAI that will enable ChatGPT users to complete purchases directly through the platform using PayPal’s payment system. The move, unveiled on Tuesday, sent PayPal shares soaring 13% in premarket trading and marks a significant step toward integrating autonomous commerce within conversational AI experiences.
Under the collaboration, PayPal will not only provide instant checkout options within ChatGPT but also connect OpenAI’s global user base to its extensive merchant network — allowing users to both buy and sell within the chat interface. This partnership positions PayPal at the center of what experts are calling the next evolution in online retail: Agentic AI shopping, where intelligent systems autonomously handle end-to-end purchasing decisions for consumers.
These new AI-driven shopping agents go beyond basic recommendation engines. They can independently research products, compare options, set budgets, evaluate reviews, and even track price changes — effectively acting as intelligent personal shoppers capable of executing transactions in real time.
PayPal CEO Alex Chriss said the integration will redefine digital commerce by merging conversational AI with secure payments. “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,” Chriss stated.
The initiative aligns with PayPal’s broader strategy to reinvent digital payments for an AI-driven era. As large language models like ChatGPT evolve from conversational tools to autonomous decision-makers, embedded payment systems are becoming crucial for seamless, end-to-end user experiences.
Analysts view this partnership as a key milestone in the rise of agentic commerce — a model in which AI systems manage purchasing behavior on behalf of users. This shift could dramatically streamline e-commerce while opening new revenue channels for payment providers and digital merchants alike.
PayPal is expected to share more details on the collaboration during its quarterly earnings announcement for the period ended September 30, scheduled for later on Tuesday. Industry watchers believe this integration could mark the beginning of a new phase where AI agents don’t just assist with shopping — they complete it.
