Visa Integrates Payment Network with ChatGPT, Enabling AI to Complete Shopping Transactions on Behalf of Users

According to foreign media reports, payment giant Visa recently announced that it has embedded its payment network into ChatGPT. The chatbot can now independently complete product selection and transaction processes on behalf of users, applicable to all merchants that accept Visa payments. Previously, Visa's similar technology attempts were limited to use with a single or a small number of partner merchants.

This collaboration is not OpenAI's first foray into the e-commerce space. In late 2025, OpenAI launched the Instant Checkout feature, which allowed ChatGPT to act as a digital personal shopper to search the entire web for specified products. However, due to a high transaction error rate and a merchant fee structure that failed to gain widespread acceptance, the service was discontinued in March 2026. The current collaboration model between Visa and OpenAI is more likely to be accepted by merchants, as users can directly link their Visa cards to complete purchases through ChatGPT.

In terms of division of labor, OpenAI provides the technology for AI interaction, decision-making, and purchase initiation, while Visa is responsible for providing the payment authorization and fraud detection services required for large-scale transactions.

Jack Forestell, Visa's Chief Product and Strategy Officer, mentioned at a company event in San Francisco that as AI agents become active participants in economic activities, Visa's focus is on ensuring transactions are trustworthy, secure, and seamless. He gave a live example: a user could ask ChatGPT to 'find wireless headphones under $150,' and the chatbot could filter suitable products and complete the purchase directly on the user's behalf.

Visa and OpenAI have not disclosed the financial terms of this collaboration, nor have they revealed the details of the related fees to be borne by merchants and users. The previous Instant Checkout charged merchants a 4% fee on the transaction amount, which merchants considered too costly.

The model of AI shopping and paying on behalf of users has also raised industry concerns. Banks are worried about potential fraud and dispute claims arising from situations like users overspending, AI purchasing unsuitable products, or users denying transaction authorization. The retail sector shares similar concerns. Visa stated that the feature has implemented protective mechanisms such as spending limits, mandatory transaction approval steps, and a whitelist of approved merchants to reduce transaction risks and protect user rights.

There have been previous market explorations into AI shopping. Amazon's Alexa was one of the earliest similar products, but it only supported shopping operations within the Amazon platform. Visa's main competitor, Mastercard, has launched an AI shopping and payment function on a limited scale, targeting business users. The AI can purchase related services on behalf of businesses; for example, a coffee shop could authorize the AI to procure web and advertising services to set up marketing campaigns.