ISTANBUL

US-based payment systems firm PayPal has partnered with OpenAI to integrate its digital wallet into ChatGPT, enabling customers to pay for products discovered using the top consumer AI platform, the companies announced Tuesday.

The deal would allow ChatGPT to be integrated into both PayPal's ecosystems, starting next year, which will allow customers to purchase items through the AI platform and its merchants to sell their products on ChatGPT.

"Millions of ChatGPT users will be able to check out instantly using PayPal, and PayPal will support payments processing for merchants leveraging OpenAI Instant Checkout. PayPal will also connect its global merchant network to OpenAI, creating a platform for tens of millions of small businesses and the largest brands in the world to sell within ChatGPT," PayPal said in a statement.

PayPal's CEO Alex Chriss said: "Hundreds of millions of people turn to ChatGPT each week for help with everyday tasks, including finding products they love, and over 400 million use PayPal to shop.

"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 for our joint customer bases."

The statement said the partnership will also include PayPal's Instant Checkout system, including multiple funding options such as bank balance and cards, as well as PayPal's buyer and seller protections and post-purchase services such as tracking and dispute resolution.

After the partnership's announcement, PayPal's shares climbed over 14% in Tuesday's premarket trading.

PayPal is now an early participant in OpenAI's initiatives to increase ChatGPT's e-commerce functionality. Two weeks ago, OpenAI announced an e-commerce agreement with Walmart, and last month, it revealed that its customers could purchase from Shopify and Etsy sellers.