The short version
OpenAI has opened a beta Business Hub that lets US brands claim verified ChatGPT profiles and launch AI agents. The tool also provides data on mentions, clicks and product details.
What happened
OpenAI launched a beta feature called Businesses in ChatGPT that allows companies to create verified profiles inside the ChatGPT interface.
Through a Business Hub, brands can add product feeds, update prices and stock, and see how often they are mentioned or clicked in conversations.
Eligible US e‑commerce and online‑service firms can also build Business Agents, AI agents that answer customer questions and can be sold as ads.
OpenAI says user conversations are not shared with the businesses.
The background
The move mirrors Google’s Business listings, which let companies control how they appear on Search and Maps.
OpenAI is expanding its advertising business, which reached a $1 billion annual run rate in August and now hosts about 100 000 advertisers.
Earlier attempts to turn ChatGPT into a direct e‑commerce checkout failed and were retired in March.
What it means for owners and operators
Brand owners can now manage how their business appears to 1.2 billion weekly ChatGPT users, improving visibility without needing a separate search‑engine listing.
Operators gain a new channel for customer interaction; the AI agent can field queries, compare products and drive traffic to the company website.
Executives should note that the data dashboard shows profile views, mentions and click‑through rates, giving a quick view of AI‑driven discovery performance.
Founders of smaller e‑commerce sites may face competition from larger brands that can afford to sponsor agents as ads.
The numbers
ChatGPT reaches 1.2 billion users each week.
OpenAI’s advertising business passed a $1 billion annual run rate.
Our take
Analysis by Infercline · Second-order effects
Verified ChatGPT profiles give brands a new discovery channel, but privacy safeguards and ad rules demand careful setup.
What to do in your business tomorrow
- Audit the most common customer questions on your website and create concise answers that an AI could use.
- Map the key product features that differentiate your brand and prepare brief comparison points for AI‑driven chats.
- Set up a simple tracking system to monitor traffic from AI interactions to your site and assess conversion rates.
Related coverage
Sources
- the-decoder.com: OpenAI turns ChatGPT into a business directory with AI agents that handle customer questions
- thenextweb.com: OpenAI lets businesses claim ChatGPT profiles and launch their own agents
- techcrunch.com: OpenAI rolls out new business profiles, making ChatGPT just a little bit more like Google