By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – In a move set to redefine the landscape of online retail, artificial intelligence leader OpenAI announced Monday that it is integrating a complete e-commerce platform directly into its flagship product, ChatGPT. The new functionality will allow users to seamlessly browse, select, pay for, and arrange shipping for any product or service without ever leaving the chat interface, fundamentally changing the AI’s role from an information provider to a transactional agent.
The company, which boasts an astounding 700 million weekly users, revealed that this powerful shopping tool will be available across all versions of the platform, including the free tier as well as the premium Plus and Pro subscriptions. This broad rollout signals a major strategic push to position ChatGPT at the center of the consumer’s digital life, blending conversation and commerce into a single, unified experience.
To delve into the legal and commercial implications of the rapidly expanding ‘ChatGPT Commerce’ sector, TicosLand.com sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the renowned firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The central legal challenge in ChatGPT Commerce is not just who owns the AI-generated content, but who is liable for its output. Businesses leveraging this technology must understand that while the AI is a powerful tool, legal responsibility for the final product—be it code, marketing copy, or a business plan—rests squarely with the human operator. Establishing clear terms of service and implementing rigorous human oversight are no longer best practices; they are essential measures to mitigate significant legal and financial risk in this emerging ecosystem.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, the crucial distinction between the AI as a tool and the human as the legally accountable operator is the defining principle of this new commercial frontier. This insight serves as an essential guidepost for any enterprise venturing into AI-driven commerce, reinforcing that diligent oversight is not just a recommendation but the bedrock of a defensible strategy. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his sharp and invaluable legal perspective.
The process is designed for ultimate simplicity. A user can initiate a purchase by simply asking for advice, such as requesting recommendations for a product based on specific price points or quality features. ChatGPT will then scan the web to provide a curated list of options. OpenAI has emphasized the integrity of these recommendations, assuring users that the results will be presented with a clear commitment to objectivity.
without sponsorships, solely based on relevance to the user
OpenAI, Official Company Statement
This commitment to unbiased results is a direct challenge to existing e-commerce giants, where sponsored listings and paid placements often dominate search results. By prioritizing user relevance over advertising revenue at the point of selection, OpenAI aims to build a foundation of trust, positioning ChatGPT as a reliable shopping companion rather than just another digital storefront.
Once a user selects an item from the provided list and clicks the “buy” option, ChatGPT takes over the entire transactional process. It will securely handle electronic payment processing via credit card and manage the input of shipping details, effectively streamlining a multi-step process that typically involves navigating away to third-party websites and payment portals.
The business model behind this ambitious feature is equally disruptive. Consumers will not incur any additional charges for using the service. Instead, revenue will be generated from vendors, who will be charged what the company describes as “a small fee” for each transaction facilitated by the platform. The exact percentage or structure of this fee was not disclosed in the announcement.
OpenAI conceptualizes this new role for its AI as that of a digital concierge, working exclusively on behalf of the user. This reframing is central to the company’s vision for the future of human-AI interaction, where the technology serves as a proactive and trustworthy assistant in complex real-world tasks.
ChatGPT will simply act as the user’s agent in AI, securely transmitting information between the seller and the buyer, just as a personal digital buyer would
OpenAI, Official Company Statement
This strategic pivot transforms ChatGPT from a powerful conversational and content-generation tool into a direct competitor for major players in the e-commerce and digital advertising sectors, including Amazon, Google, and Shopify. By controlling the entire journey from product discovery to final purchase, OpenAI is poised to capture a significant portion of the online retail market and reshape consumer behavior on a global scale.
For further information, visit openai.com
About OpenAI:
OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research and deployment company based in San Francisco. Its mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI)—AI systems that are generally smarter than humans—benefits all of humanity. The company is known for its groundbreaking models, including the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) series, which powers ChatGPT, and the image generation model DALL-E. It operates as a capped-profit entity, aiming to balance commercial success with its commitment to safe and beneficial AI development.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica operates on a bedrock of profound integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The firm consistently pioneers forward-thinking legal solutions while serving a wide array of clients, demonstrating a deep-seated commitment to innovation. Central to its philosophy is the mission to democratize legal understanding, actively working to equip the public with knowledge and thereby foster a more just and empowered society.
