OpenAI has introduced Businesses in ChatGPT, a new feature that allows companies to claim and manage their business profiles, update product information, and track customer engagement within the AI chatbot.
The company also unveiled Business Agents, which enable eligible US e-commerce and online service businesses to interact directly with potential customers through AI-powered conversations.
The announcement marks another step in OpenAI's efforts to make ChatGPT a platform for business discovery, product research, and customer engagement.
Here's what happened.
TL;DR
- OpenAI launched Businesses in ChatGPT in beta on November 10, 2026.
- Businesses can claim verified profiles, update product information, and access engagement insights through Business Hub.
- Eligible US e-commerce and online service businesses can deploy AI-powered Business Agents.
- Companies can sponsor Business Agents through ChatGPT Ads.
- OpenAI says business insights are aggregated to protect user privacy.
OpenAI Introduces Business Profiles And Business Hub In ChatGPT
OpenAI announced the launch of Businesses in ChatGPT on November 10, 2026, introducing a new way for companies to manage how their products and services appear within ChatGPT.
According to OpenAI's official announcement, the feature is being introduced in beta, offering businesses access to Business Hub, a centralized platform for claiming profiles, updating information, and monitoring customer interactions.
The company said the initiative is designed to help businesses connect with ChatGPT's 1.2 billion weekly users.
Through Business Hub, eligible businesses can claim their profiles and complete a verification process. Once verified, they can update key organizational information and upload product feeds containing details such as pricing and availability.
This could help businesses provide more accurate product information to people researching services, comparing products, or exploring purchasing options through ChatGPT.
As TechCrunch reported, the functionality resembles business profiles offered by Google, allowing organizations to manage their information and improve how customers discover them online.
However, OpenAI has not disclosed all the specifics of its business verification process.
Benji Shomair, OpenAI's Vice President of Monetization, told journalists that the company uses different verification methods depending on business types and markets.
Meanwhile, the company confirmed that eligible businesses operating in regions where ChatGPT is available can claim their profiles.
Existing OpenAI Enterprise customers and advertisers can work with their OpenAI representatives to complete the process.
Shopify merchants can also connect their stores through Business Hub or the Shopify admin interface, simplifying verification and product information management. Eligible Shopify products are already integrated into ChatGPT through Shopify Catalog.
Business Hub Brings Customer Engagement Insights To ChatGPT
Beyond maintaining business information, OpenAI is introducing analytics capabilities that help organizations understand how users discover and interact with them.
According to Reuters, Business Hub will provide aggregated insights into business mentions, views, and website clicks generated through ChatGPT.
OpenAI also confirmed that businesses can explore discovery topics, which highlight common themes across conversations where their websites are cited.
For example, businesses could identify frequently discussed product categories or services and use those insights to improve the information they provide to ChatGPT.
TechCrunch compared these capabilities with Google Analytics, noting that the new tools introduce another way for companies to understand customer interest within an AI-powered discovery platform.
However, OpenAI emphasized that these analytics will not expose individual user conversations.
The company said it will not share users' ChatGPT conversations or Business Agent chats with businesses. Insights will be aggregated and made available only when sufficient interactions meet specified privacy thresholds.
OpenAI Launches Business Agents For US E-Commerce Companies
Alongside Business Hub, OpenAI introduced Business Agents, allowing eligible organizations to create AI-powered experiences that answer customer questions about products and services.
Once a business has claimed its profile, eligible organizations can build, test, and launch a Business Agent.
When a business appears in a ChatGPT response, users can select its profile to view additional information. If the business offers an agent, customers can initiate a separate conversation to explore its products or services.
For instance, someone comparing two products could ask a Business Agent about their features, differences, and suitability for particular requirements.
According to OpenAI, these conversations are clearly labeled and remain separate from users' original ChatGPT conversations and the platform's independent responses.
The initial rollout is limited to eligible e-commerce and online service businesses in the United States.
OpenAI also confirmed that companies can sponsor their Business Agents and use them as destinations for ChatGPT Ads.
These sponsored placements will be labeled and kept separate from ChatGPT's regular responses, distinguishing paid business interactions from independent AI-generated answers.
OpenAI Expands ChatGPT's Role In Online Business Discovery
The latest announcement comes as OpenAI continues exploring ways to expand ChatGPT beyond answering questions and generating content.
TechCrunch noted that OpenAI previously attempted to introduce direct purchasing capabilities within ChatGPT through an e-commerce initiative involving checkout functionality and commission-based transactions.
Topics For More Insights
However, the company moved away from that approach in March 2026 after the initiative failed to gain sufficient traction.
The introduction of Business Hub and Business Agents signals a different approach, focusing on business discovery, customer interactions, and product information rather than directly facilitating purchases.
For businesses, the development introduces opportunities to manage their information and understand how potential customers discover them through conversational AI.
For consumers, it could provide easier access to updated business details and product-specific assistance without navigating multiple websites.
However, maintaining a verified business profile does not guarantee prominent placement in ChatGPT responses, and OpenAI has not announced such a guarantee.
OpenAI also plans to extend Businesses in ChatGPT and Business Agents to additional markets and business categories, although it has not provided a specific expansion timeline.
The company described the announcement as an early step in bringing businesses more deeply into ChatGPT.
With verified profiles, engagement insights, and AI-powered customer conversations, OpenAI is positioning ChatGPT as another channel through which companies can connect with potential customers.
