ChatGPT Will Include Non Ad-Driven Product Recommendations on Its Search Results
- OpenAI has upgraded its web search tool ChatGPT to include shopping features and product recommendations, which are not driven by ads.
- The shopping outcomes will be based on structured metadata from third-party sources, including pricing, product descriptions, and reviews.
- These products can appear in ChatGPT search results when a user query implies shopping intent, such as searching for gifts related to cooking.
- Any merchant with a discoverable site that is not blocking the OAI-SearchBot web crawler can appear in ChatGPT search results, and publishers can track referral traffic using analytics platforms like Google Analytics.
- OpenAI’s goal is to create a more personalized experience for finding products and information on the internet, competing with rival Google in the online shopping space.
IBL News | New York
OpenAI upgraded its web search tool in the default model of ChatGPT, GPT-4, with shopping features and product recommendations, which include direct links to web pages where users can purchase products, although the company won’t receive any kickback from users’ purchases.
These results are related to categories like fashion, beauty, home goods, and electronics. They surface when a user query implies shopping intent, such as “gifts for someone who loves cooking,” the company announced this week.
The shopping outcomes will be based on structured metadata from third-party sources, including pricing, product descriptions, and reviews.
“These products are chosen independently and are not ads,” said the company. Any merchant can appear in the ChatGPT search as long as it has a discoverable site that is not blocking a web crawler called OAI-SearchBot.
Web owners might need to update theirrobots.txt file to ensure OAI-SearchBot has access.
“Publishers who allow OAI-SearchBotto access their content, can track referral traffic from ChatGPT using analytics platforms such as Google Analytics. ChatGPT automatically includes the UTM parameter utm_source=chatgpt.com in referral URLs, enabling clear tracking and analysis of inbound traffic from ChatGPT search results.”
OpenAI ensured that this web crawler was not used to train its AI foundation models with content.
Online shopping is one of Google’s most important businesses. Now, OpenAI is attempting to compete with rival Google by creating a more personalized experience for finding products and information on the internet.
Shopping
We’re experimenting with making shopping simpler and faster to find, compare, and buy products in ChatGPT.
Improved product results
Product results are chosen independently and are not ads.… pic.twitter.com/PkZwsTxJUj
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) April 28, 2025