OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Shopping Research Tool

OpenAI launched a new shopping research feature for ChatGPT on Monday, introducing an AI-powered tool designed to assist users in creating personalized buyers' guides for products. The rollout comes ahead of the holiday shopping season and aims to streamline product discovery by handling research tasks within the chat interface, available to all users regardless of subscription level.

The feature activates automatically for shopping-related prompts, such as "find a powerful laptop for gaming under $1,000" or "suggest gifts for a four-year-old who loves art." ChatGPT responds by asking clarifying questions about budget, preferences, size, or intended use to refine the search. It then scans the internet for current pricing, specifications, reviews, and availability from multiple retail sites, compiling the information into a comprehensive guide. This may include top recommendations, comparison tables, pros and cons, and options labeled by category, such as "best mechanical STEM project under $50." The process can take several minutes, similar to the platform's deep research mode, and draws on ChatGPT's memory of past conversations for more tailored suggestions.