PayPal Adopts OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol for ChatGPT Shopping

PayPal has become the first large-scale adopter of OpenAI’s open source Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP), a specification designed to standardize AI-driven shopping experiences. The partnership enables users to browse, select, and purchase products directly within ChatGPT, with transactions powered by PayPal’s infrastructure.

The integration builds on OpenAI’s “Instant Checkout” feature, introduced in September 2025, which allows users to confirm orders, shipping details, and payments within the chat interface. By connecting with ACP, PayPal will make its payment network available to both buyers and merchants participating in AI-native transactions. Users will be able to pay using their PayPal wallets for protection and dispute resolution, while a separate API will enable direct card payments.

Beginning in 2026, merchants using PayPal will have their product catalogues automatically discoverable through ChatGPT across multiple categories, including fashion, beauty, home improvement, and electronics. They will not need to perform additional integration steps, reducing friction for small and medium-sized sellers.

PayPal also plans to release an agentic commerce suite that allows merchants to showcase products in AI apps, accept payments across platforms, and access consumer insights generated by AI-driven interactions. “By partnering with OpenAI and adopting the Agentic Commerce Protocol, PayPal will power payments and commerce experiences that help people go from chat to checkout in just a few taps,” said Alex Chriss, President and CEO of PayPal.

The collaboration underscores a broader industry move toward open standards in AI commerce. Because ACP is open source, developers and merchants beyond OpenAI’s ecosystem can participate, potentially accelerating the adoption of interoperable AI shopping protocols across different platforms.