ChatGPT Wallet lets AI agents buy things for you with your approval

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Wallet, a payment feature that lets its Dots agents, AI that completes a task with several steps for you, not just one answer, buy things on your behalf. Every purchase still needs your sign-off, and your real card details are never passed to the agent or the shop.

What happened

On 13 November, OpenAI began rolling out ChatGPT Wallet to ChatGPT Pro subscribers in the US. To use it, you must be aged 18 or older, have a US billing address, and hold an eligible US-issued card from American Express, Chase, Mastercard or Visa. The wallet was built in partnership with American Express, Mastercard and Visa.

The feature works through Dots, OpenAI's agents platform. When a Dots agent is ready to check out, it pauses and shows you the items, the total and the card you have on file. You approve the purchase with a biometric check, such as Face ID or a fingerprint scan. Only after that does the payment go through.

Instead of sending your actual card number to the retailer, the payment network creates a payment token, a substitute card number used just for that transaction. This is the same approach used by Apple Pay and Google Wallet. Your real card details are not shared with the agent or the business.

OpenAI says it plans to let you set spending limits, purchase categories or time periods so that agents can handle repeat purchases without asking each time. That feature is not available yet.

What it means for your work

• You can ask a Dots agent to research and buy a product in one conversation, rather than switching tabs to complete checkout yourself.
• Your existing card rewards and dispute protections carry over to eligible purchases made through the wallet.
• Not every retailer will accept agent payments. OpenAI notes that some sites may unintentionally block them, and payment systems need to recognise agent-led transactions. Earlier this year, Amazon blocked Meta's Muse agents, showing this is a real risk.
• OpenAI has published a Commerce Partner Playbook to help businesses support agent purchases, but adoption will take time.

What to do now

1. Check that you are on a ChatGPT Pro plan. The wallet is not available on other plans yet.
2. Confirm you have a US billing address and one of the eligible cards listed above.
3. Follow OpenAI's in-app prompts to add your card to ChatGPT Wallet once it appears in your account.
4. When a Dots agent offers to complete a purchase, review the item list and total carefully before approving with Face ID or your fingerprint.
5. If a purchase fails, the retailer may be blocking agent payments. OpenAI has not said when broader retailer compatibility will arrive.

The wallet is a practical step toward hands-free shopping, but you are still the one who approves every transaction.