Core Viewpoint - OpenAI has integrated a shopping feature into ChatGPT, allowing users to express shopping needs and compare product prices across multiple platforms, marking a significant step in the commercialization of AI chatbots [1][3][15]. Group 1: Shopping Feature Implementation - The shopping feature is embedded within the ChatGPT dialogue system and currently supports categories such as electronics, fashion, beauty, and home goods, with plans to expand to more categories in the future [5][15]. - Users can request product recommendations, and ChatGPT generates a list of items with links from major e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Walmart, and eBay, including images, prices, and brief descriptions [2][6][8]. - The product reviews displayed come from various online publishers and user forums, but users must complete purchases on the merchant's website as in-app checkout is not available [9][10]. Group 2: Market Context and Trends - The rapid development of large models has led to a shift in user behavior from traditional search engines to AI chatbots for searches, with ChatGPT recording over 1 billion searches in the past week [11]. - There is a growing interest among e-commerce platforms to leverage generative AI for product visibility, with some businesses exploring how to feature their products in AI-generated responses [12][13]. Group 3: Future Revenue Opportunities - OpenAI's shopping feature does not currently generate revenue or charge e-commerce platforms for recommendations, but future collaborations with specific platforms could lead to revenue-sharing opportunities [15][20]. - OpenAI has been exploring partnerships with e-commerce platforms like Shopify to facilitate a more integrated shopping experience, which may pave the way for affiliate marketing and revenue-sharing models [16][19]. - The company anticipates achieving positive cash flow and $125 billion in revenue by 2029, indicating a long-term strategy for monetization [26]. Group 4: Financial Challenges - OpenAI's primary revenue source has been user subscriptions, with an expected annual recurring revenue of approximately $3.4 billion by mid-2024, but this is insufficient to cover the high costs of model training and operations, projected to reach $7 billion in 2024 [21][22][23]. - The integration of shopping features could provide a new revenue stream for AI model companies, as seen with other tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, who are also developing AI-driven shopping solutions [24]. Group 5: Consumer Demand - A survey conducted by IBM revealed that over half of consumers expressed a desire to use robots or virtual assistants while shopping, indicating a strong market demand for AI-enhanced shopping experiences [25].