OpenAI is firmly knocking on the door of technology giants Google and Meta and even Amazon. Previous scares about AI have been focused on search query volume, not being replaced in the ad tech stack. ChatGPT can compete with dominant platforms for its place in the ecosystem, and to date this is push into purchasing is the most concrete example of OpenAI coming for advertising at large. If they were to first launch an aggressive Agentic checkout solution before Meta or Google, this would be seen as huge competitive shots at both companies.
In some ways by completely bypassing the top of funnel of search or pushing ads, it creates a third space for purchasing. Social media time continues to climb as human-to-human interaction is still the primary time consumption, so the research portion of consumer journeys would more heavily impact Google, but there is opportunity for smaller players. Certain smaller players are actually winning here as shown by the data below
From Today to Agentic Purchasing End State
It’s no secret that we are very far from that future today. It would likely take a few steps before a true product launch, but it starts with a Router and likely many partnerships on the other side as connectors. Maybe in the beginning, ChatGPT gets affiliate fees for the currently recommended items that lead to a purchase. This would look like a typical affiliate marketing deal, and would have hard-to-measure success rates and lower take rates.
This would fulfill a vision for non-intrusive ads by Sam Altman, as well as continue to enable ChatGPT to be a trusted advisor to users for free. ChatGPT will become an agent to help users make one of the most important decisions in their day-to-day lives: buying stuff. OpenAI and Shopify are already working on a checkout integration today.
Companies would flock quickly to this large new purchasing habit. Booking flights, purchasing items, buying food, etc. If there is a connection to a website and payment information, this could all be monetized for “free” use of the application but at transaction.