OpenAI expands ChatGPT for businesses with profile claiming and agent advertising

OpenAI has rolled out a test version of ChatGPT Businesses, enabling enterprises to claim merchant profiles, manage data, and analyze user interaction within the platform. This new suite of tools allows businesses to engage potential customers through ChatGPT. The service is accessible via Business Hub, where eligible companies can verify and update key information, including adding self-service product data sources detailing pricing and inventory for more accurate responses. Beyond profile management, the update introduces Business Agents, allowing verified organizations to create and deploy custom AI agents to answer user queries and present services. Users can initiate conversations with these agents, which are clearly distinguished from standard ChatGPT responses. Furthermore, businesses can now purchase sponsored placements for their agents, effectively using them as targeted advertising endpoints within ChatGPT. For data insights, Business Hub provides aggregated statistics, such as how often a merchant is mentioned or how many users click through to their website. OpenAI assures that these analytics are privacy-protected, meaning user conversation content and chat logs are never shared with the enterprise, and data is only visible once interaction thresholds are met. Currently, Business Agents are available to eligible e-commerce and online service businesses in the United States, with plans for broader expansion.