OpenAI Introduces Verified 'Business Agents' and Business Hub in ChatGPT
OpenAI is testing a new beta feature in ChatGPT that allows verified brand agents to interact directly with users for comparison shopping and product inquiries.
Verified Corporate AI Agents Enter ChatGPT
OpenAI is taking a step toward deeper commercial integration within ChatGPT by introducing a suite of business-focused features in beta. Central to the rollout is the concept of verified "Business Agents"—custom AI entities created by companies to interact directly with consumers for tasks like comparison shopping and product research.
The feature is initially rolling out to "eligible" e-commerce and online service companies based in the United States. Users can initiate a conversation with a custom Business Agent when a participating brand appears in a response generated by ChatGPT.
How Business Agents Function
Companies that deploy a Business Agent can provide tailor-made instructions and detailed business context to train the agent on how to handle queries. During interactions, users can ask granular follow-up questions, such as comparing specific features or differences between two products offered by the brand.
To ensure transparency, OpenAI confirmed that conversations with Business Agents will be clearly labeled and kept separate from a user's primary ChatGPT chat history.
Brand Verification and Insights with Business Hub
To guarantee that an agent genuinely represents an official enterprise, OpenAI is launching "Business Hub," a dedicated portal where organizations can claim their identity and complete a verification process.
Addressing the verification mechanism during a press briefing, Benji Shomair, Vice President of Monetization at OpenAI, noted that specific verification details are not being publicized because distinct methods are applied depending on the business type.
Business Hub also acts as an analytics portal, allowing enterprises to monitor key operational metrics, including:
- Direct mentions of their business within ChatGPT answers.
- Top "discovery topics" where their enterprise frequently surfaces.
Paving the Way for Enterprise Integration
In a blog post accompanying the release, OpenAI characterized the beta rollout as a foundational step toward bringing corporate entities into the platform. The company stated that its immediate focus centers on establishing accurate business data, reliable insights, and helpful interactions for decision-making.
Looking ahead, OpenAI indicated plans to test additional direct customer touchpoints for enterprises, both within ChatGPT and beyond its current ecosystem.
