On Nov. 10, OpenAI launched a beta that lets businesses claim and manage ChatGPT profiles, track combined engagement data and, for some U.S. companies, offer AI agents to customers.
OpenAI's Business Hub lets eligible businesses verify their profiles, update key details and share product lists showing current prices and availability. Shopify merchants can connect their stores through Shopify or the hub. Businesses can also see combined measures such as mentions, website clicks and common topics in conversations where their sites appear.
OpenAI says it does not share individual conversations. It also limits access to these insights until enough interactions have taken place. The new Business Agents are initially available to eligible U.S. e-commerce and online-service businesses.
Those businesses can set up agents to answer questions about their products or services using information and guidelines they provide. Customers' conversations with these agents are labeled as representing the business and kept separate from ChatGPT's independent answers. Businesses may also sponsor agents to appear as destinations for ChatGPT ads.
Sponsored placements are labeled, according to OpenAI's announcement as reported by Reuters. The launch gives companies tools to shape the details customers see and measure some interactions. But OpenAI says claiming a profile does not guarantee better placement or more sales.