Until now, when we looked for a store or compared products, we used to turn to Google or social media. ChatGPT Search started to change this habit and now that we ask ChatGPT many of our questions, OpenAI wants to go a step further. The company is introducing Businesses in ChatGPT so that businesses can appear when we search for products and services using OpenAI’s AI.
A profile for finding companies and products
Business Hub lets companies claim their profile, verify it, and update their information, prices, and availability, according to OpenAI. This move undoubtedly fits especially well with ChatGPT’s push into e-commerce and for users, it means that we’ll be able to get much more accurate information while we compare different purchase options.
For companies, it means they’ll be able to know how many times they’re mentioned, how many clicks their websites receive from ChatGPT, and which topics generate the greatest interest. All of this through aggregated statistics with minimum activity thresholds to protect privacy.
A direct conversation with each business
The other big new feature OpenAI has announced is Business Agents. When we find a business in ChatGPT, we’ll be able to open its profile and, if it has an agent, ask it directly about its products. A feature that closely resembles Shopify’s automated commerce.
For now, these agents are available only for certain online retailers and services in the United States, but it’s likely that they’ll gradually expand. While OpenAI continues rolling out ChatGPT ads, this marks a fairly significant shift for OpenAI’s chatbot. We’ll see how this evolves.
