OpenAI updates ChatGPT with shopping features, user reviews...
OpenAI has recently introduced a major update to ChatGPT, enhancing its search capabilities to offer users a more personalized and seamless online shopping experience. This new feature, which was officially announced on Monday, is now a part of ChatGPT's default AI model, GPT-4o, and is accessible to users worldwide, including those on Free, Plus, and Pro tiers, as well as those who are not logged in.
Users can now expect tailored product recommendations complete with images, user reviews, and direct purchase links when they search for products within ChatGPT. The supported categories initially include electronics, home goods, fashion, and cosmetics. OpenAI emphasizes that users can ask specific questions using natural language and receive personalized responses.
Ad-Free Shopping Experience
Unlike many other platforms, OpenAI assures that there will be no advertisements in the shopping results presented on ChatGPT. The results are sourced from structured metadata, such as product descriptions, prices, and reviews, ensuring an unbiased shopping experience. Furthermore, OpenAI does not earn commissions or affiliate fees from purchases made through the platform, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining an ad-free environment.
OpenAI reports a significant increase in ChatGPT's popularity, with over a billion web searches conducted in the past week alone. The platform also boasts more than 400 million weekly active users, indicating its substantial impact on the online ecosystem.
Future Enhancements
Looking ahead, OpenAI plans to implement a memory feature that will store user conversations to further personalize the shopping experience for Pro and Plus users. This feature will enable ChatGPT to offer tailored product recommendations based on user preferences and previous inquiries.
However, due to regulatory considerations, memory-related personalization features will not be immediately available in certain regions, including the EU, U.K., Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Additional Features
In addition to personalized product recommendations, ChatGPT search now includes trending searches to help users discover popular topics in real time. The platform has also integrated its search functionality into WhatsApp, providing users with instant responses and support for shopping inquiries directly within the messaging app.
While OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, has been hesitant to introduce advertising to ChatGPT, discussions around affiliate models that prioritize user experience while maintaining search engine optimization are ongoing. As of now, ChatGPT's shopping updates remain ad-free, distinguishing it in the current commercialized search environment.
