Is ChatGPT About To Handle Your Payments? Here's What OpenAI Boss Sam Altman Thinks About Future Of Work

OpenAI is quietly laying the groundwork to expand ChatGPT's capabilities beyond conversation. A recent report reveals that the AI company is developing its own payment checkout system, likely aiming to support purchases directly within ChatGPT.

While still in the works, the effort signals a clear push to turn ChatGPT into more than just a chatbot, possibly a full-fledged digital assistant that can help users make transactions, not just find information. Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has offered his thoughts on the future of AI and work, noting that underestimating human adaptability might be a bigger risk than AI itself.

OpenAI’s Next Move: A Native Checkout System

OpenAI appears to be testing a payment system that lets users complete purchases without leaving ChatGPT. This native checkout feature would allow businesses to embed e-commerce experiences within the chatbot, giving users a smooth, in-chat buying experience. According to a report by The Information, some testers were shown a scenario where ChatGPT helped book a car detailing appointment; including choosing a slot, confirming pricing, and making the payment, all of it inside the app.

This would make ChatGPT more than just an assistant. If successful, it could take on roles usually reserved for websites or apps, helping users shop, subscribe, or book services using natural language. OpenAI is reportedly not relying on existing third-party platforms like Stripe or Apple Pay to build this tool, which could give it more control over user experience and revenue.

Why This Matters: AI As An Economic Actor

While ChatGPT has been widely adopted for writing, coding, and brainstorming, the integration of payment capabilities hints at OpenAI’s vision of AI as an interface for everything. If users trust ChatGPT with sensitive financial actions, the shift could be as big as how we moved from desktop browsers to mobile apps.

Sam Altman, speaking separately at a Bloomberg event, said he believes AI will not eliminate jobs the way many fear. “I think betting against human creativity and ingenuity is always a mistake,” Altman said. Instead, he sees AI as a tool that augments productivity.

Altman added that even as AI becomes more advanced, humans will keep finding new things to do. The focus, according to him, should not just be on job loss but on creating new roles and systems to adapt.

What Comes Next: From Chat to Commerce

OpenAI hasn’t shared an official launch timeline for this feature, but its development aligns with the company’s larger efforts to deepen user engagement. A payments system inside ChatGPT could unlock new monetisation models for OpenAI, particularly with its pro-tier subscriptions.

It also reflects growing competition among AI platforms to offer more utility. While Google, Meta, and others focus on AI search or productivity, OpenAI seems to be carving out space in consumer transactions; where convenience and trust will be key.

If successful, ChatGPT may evolve from answering your questions to paying your bills; one chat at a time.

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