Technology news and discussion on TalkFuse.
OpenAI introduces business profiles to give companies a presence in ChatGPT
OpenAI has launched a beta Business Hub where companies can create verified profiles and, if eligible, offer specialised agents to answer ChatGPT users’ questions about their business and products. The move gives businesses more control over how they appear in ChatGPT as people use AI to discover and compare products.
Companies will also get limited insights, including profile views, mentions, website clicks and other measures of user interaction. OpenAI says it uses different verification methods depending on the business and market, but has not detailed the process. The launch follows the company’s earlier attempt to enable direct shopping in ChatGPT, which it ended in March after the project failed to gain traction.
In short
- OpenAI has launched a beta Business Hub.
- Companies can verify profiles and offer business agents.
- The move follows ChatGPT’s discontinued shopping effort.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Verified business profiles could make information about companies and their products more accurate and easier to find, while specialised agents may answer customer questions directly. Limited engagement insights could also help businesses understand how people discover them and improve their online presence.
The case against
Giving companies a managed presence in ChatGPT could blur the line between independent answers and business promotion, especially when users rely on the service to compare products. Because the verification process and eligibility rules are not detailed, businesses and users may have limited clarity about who is represented and how those profiles are surfaced.
Explained simply
ChatGPT is an AI service that answers questions and can help people find information about businesses and products. Companies have traditionally relied on their own websites and other online listings to explain what they offer.
OpenAI runs ChatGPT and is testing a Business Hub where companies can create verified profiles. Some businesses may also be able to offer specialised agents that answer questions about them, while receiving limited information about how users interact with their profiles.
The change matters because people may use ChatGPT to discover and compare products, giving businesses another way to present themselves. It follows an earlier attempt by OpenAI to enable shopping directly in ChatGPT, which ended in March after attracting limited interest.
AI Research Science Technology
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by TechCrunch as “OpenAI rolls out new business profiles, making ChatGPT just a little bit more like Google”.