OpenAI’s New Agentic Commerce Protocol: Shop Etsy and Shopify Directly in ChatGPT
OpenAI has taken a giant leap toward transforming online shopping with its newly launched Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP). This innovative open standard allows users to discover and shop directly from popular platforms like Etsy and Shopify—right inside ChatGPT. Imagine finding your favorite products, adding items to your cart, and checking out seamlessly without ever leaving your chat window. This is the future of frictionless, AI-driven e-commerce.
What is the Agentic Commerce Protocol?
The Agentic Commerce Protocol is an open-source standard that lets AI chatbots like ChatGPT collaborate with merchants' online stores to complete purchases on behalf of users. Co-developed with Stripe and supported by major merchants, ACP enables a unified shopping experience managed entirely within the AI conversation.
Instead of navigating multiple websites and checkouts, ACP lets users shop across merchants through one chat interface, receiving personalized recommendations along the way.
How Instant Checkout Works Inside ChatGPT
A key feature of ACP is Instant Checkout. Users find product suggestions—such as “best running shoes under $100” or “gifts for a ceramics lover”—and can instantly buy items directly in the chat.
Payments are secured by a Shared Payment Token system using trusted processors like Stripe, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Merchants continue managing fulfillment, pricing, and returns while ChatGPT acts as a secure shopping assistant.
Partnerships with Etsy and Shopify
Initial rollout supports U.S.-based Etsy sellers and will soon include over a million Shopify merchants such as Glossier, SKIMS, Spanx, and Vuori. Merchants maintain control while accessing the growing AI shopping audience.
Benefits for Shoppers and Merchants
- Faster, personalized shopping with no app switching or login hassles.
- Merchants tap into millions of ChatGPT users with minimal integration effort.
- Support for existing payment processors and flexible payment options.
- Secure transactions powered by open-source protocols.
Competitive Landscape and Future Potential
OpenAI’s ACP joins an evolving AI commerce race with Google and Microsoft. The open-source protocol fosters a developer ecosystem for plugins, payment gateways, and rich fulfillment, potentially creating a $10–20 billion commerce supercycle.
Announcement & Documentation
ACP was publicly announced on September 28, 2025. Merchants and developers can find full documentation, integration guides, and the open-source code on:
- OpenAI Agentic Commerce Protocol Guide
- Agentic Commerce Protocol GitHub Repository
- agenticcommerce.dev community site
- Stripe Newsroom on Agentic Commerce
Looking Ahead
As adoption grows, expect multi-merchant carts, expanded merchant support, richer AI personalization, and smoother post-purchase experiences—all integrated within ChatGPT.
The agentic commerce revolution is reshaping online shopping, making AI personal assistants your new smart shoppers.
Summary
OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol redefines e-commerce by enabling instant, AI-powered checkout inside ChatGPT, integrating top merchants like Etsy and Shopify. This open-source initiative empowers merchants with new sales channels and offers users unparalleled shopping convenience, heralding the future of digital commerce.
