ChatGPT may soon do more than just help you pick the best pair of shoes: it could actually sell them to you. According to unreleased code spotted by Testing Catalog, OpenAI is reportedly working on integrating Shopify directly into ChatGPT’s interface, turning the AI chatbot into both a personalised shopping assistant and storefront.
Instead of sending users off to different websites, ChatGPT would display product suggestions from Shopify sellers right in the chat, complete with prices, customer reviews, shipping info, and even a Buy Now button. Clicking it wouldn’t open a new tab or site, the entire shopping process would happen within ChatGPT itself.
The feature hasn’t been officially announced, but some of the hidden code is reportedly already live, hinting at an imminent launch.
For Shopify's millions of merchants, this kind of integration could be a game-changer. Small businesses often struggle to drive traffic to their online stores, relying on SEO, ads, or social media reach. With ChatGPT’s huge base of over 800 million users, their products could now surface directly in conversations, putting them in front of potential buyers effortlessly.
More importantly, this easy buying experience could lead to more completed purchases. Instead of clicking through a maze of links and forms, users could act on ChatGPT’s recommendations instantly, generating conversions with very little bureaucracy.
A new era of e-commerce
This move by OpenAI is just the beginning of a new era of e-commerce.
OpenAI isn’t alone in exploring this space. Microsoft has introduced its Copilot Merchant Program, and Perplexity AI recently launched a Buy with Pro feature in its search engine.
By embedding commerce directly into ChatGPT, OpenAI could shift perceptions of what the assistant is for, from just helping you think and research to actually getting things done.
OpenAI has already been testing these waters with its Operator agent, which can browse the web for users. This Shopify integration would expand that capability, allowing ChatGPT to complete tasks like making purchases, not just suggesting them.
AI shopping won’t eliminate buyer’s remorse, of course, but it might help you make tailored purchases a lot quicker.
What does it mean for influencer marketers and affiliate programmes?
Influencers could be AI-powered storefronts
Influencers are trusted by their followers when it comes to purchasing decisions. If Shopify products are accessible directly in ChatGPT, influencers could embed product links or trigger product suggestions within AI-generated content very easily, increasing conversion rates.
Smaller Influencers Could See More Value
Previously, micro-influencers had to depend heavily on bio links or affiliate platforms. Now, if their recommended Shopify products surface natively in ChatGPT conversations, even small creators could see significant boosts in visibility and sales.
New Discovery Channel for Influencer Brands
Many influencers have their own Shopify stores. This integration means those stores could show up in ChatGPT suggestions when a user asks for product advice, creating a new form of organic discovery.
Data-Driven Personalisation Could Benefit Influencers
ChatGPT’s personalisation capabilities mean product suggestions can be tailored to individual users. Influencers might eventually co-create product recommendation flows that reflect their brand or audience tastes, essentially automating their influence at scale.
This Shopify-ChatGPT integration could make influencer marketing more frictionless, data-oriented, and embedded in influencer content, turning content creators into conversion agents operating directly within AI platforms.
