$ ACP Info

Buy it in ChatGPT: how Instant Checkout works

Short answer: Instant Checkout lets US ChatGPT users buy from merchants without leaving the chat. It launched on 29 September 2025, powered by the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP), an open standard co-developed by OpenAI and Stripe (Apache 2.0), starting with US Etsy sellers and with Shopify merchants announced as coming soon. The merchant stays merchant of record: ChatGPT relays the order to the merchant’s backend over ACP, and the merchant accepts or declines, charges the payment method, remits tax, and handles fulfillment. Stripe issues a Shared Payment Token scoped to the merchant and cart total, so payment is initiated without exposing the buyer’s card details.

The flow, step by step

  1. The shopper asks ChatGPT for product recommendations and decides to buy.
  2. A Stripe-powered checkout appears inline in the chat; the buyer confirms with their preferred method.
  3. Stripe issues a Shared Payment Token scoped to that merchant and cart total.
  4. ChatGPT passes the order and token to the merchant’s backend over the Agentic Commerce Protocol.
  5. The merchant accepts, charges the payment, remits tax, and fulfills, exactly as it does today.

To sell through it, see how to accept payments from AI agents and the ACP standard page.

Frequently asked questions

Is buying in ChatGPT live?
Yes. Instant Checkout launched in ChatGPT on 29 September 2025 for US users, starting with US Etsy sellers, with over a million Shopify merchants announced as coming soon.
What powers Instant Checkout?
The Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP), an open standard co-developed by OpenAI and Stripe and licensed under Apache 2.0.
Who handles the payment and the order?
The merchant. ChatGPT acts as the buyer’s agent and relays information; the merchant remains merchant of record, charges the payment method, remits tax, and handles fulfillment and returns.
Is my card exposed to ChatGPT?
No. Stripe issues a Shared Payment Token scoped to a specific merchant and cart total, so the application can initiate payment without exposing your payment credentials.

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