PayPal announced on Tuesday that it will partner with OpenAI to enable users to complete purchases directly within ChatGPT via the "Instant Checkout" feature, with implementation slated for 2026.
PayPal is adopting the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP), an open-source specification developed by OpenAI that empowers merchants to showcase their products within AI applications, allowing consumers to shop through AI agents. OpenAI launched its Instant Checkout capability in September, enabling users to confirm order details, shipping preferences, and payment information—all without leaving ChatGPT.
Customers can check out using their PayPal wallets, a move the company says will extend buyer and seller protections along with dispute resolution services. Additionally, PayPal offers technical support through a standalone payment API to process card payments within ChatGPT.
Starting next year, merchants using PayPal will be able to display their products directly in ChatGPT, initially focusing on categories such as apparel, fashion, beauty, home improvement, and electronics. No integration effort is required from merchants, as PayPal will manage merchant routing and payment processing behind the scenes.
The company also plans to roll out an Agentic Commerce Suite, enabling businesses to present their product catalogs within AI applications, accept payments across various AI platforms, and gain actionable insights into consumer behavior.
PayPal has been actively positioning itself as the preferred payment partner for AI-driven shopping experiences, especially as more users turn to AI applications for everyday tasks. In May, the company teamed up with Perplexity to enable checkout within its AI-powered search tool, and in September, PayPal announced support for Google’s agentic payment protocol to integrate its services across a range of Google products.
Beyond commerce, PayPal revealed it will grant all employees enterprise-level access to ChatGPT and allow its engineering teams to leverage OpenAI’s Codex coding tools more effectively.
“Hundreds of millions of people use ChatGPT every week to assist with daily tasks—including discovering products they love—while over 400 million people shop using PayPal,” said Alex Chriss, President and CEO of PayPal, in a statement. “By collaborating with OpenAI and adopting the Agentic Commerce Protocol, PayPal will power the payment and commerce experience that enables our combined user base to go from chat to checkout with just a few taps.”
