OpenAI Boosts Shopping Search With Shopify Partnership
In a subtle but significant move, OpenAI has enhanced its ChatGPT shopping search by integrating Shopify as a data provider. This development, which was not formally announced, signals a deeper push into e-commerce and product discovery for the AI giant.
A Quiet Partnership Revealed
The update was first spotted by SEO consultant Aleyda Solís, who noticed Shopify's inclusion in OpenAI's official search documentation. According to her observations on LinkedIn, Shopify was added as a third-party search provider alongside Bing on May 15, 2025. This came just a few weeks after OpenAI announced its enhanced shopping experience on April 28.
How Shopify Integration Changes Search Results
With this partnership, ChatGPT can now pull product data directly from Shopify's vast network of merchants to create shopping-rich results. However, the search results are not exclusive to one platform. A query for "hunting dog supplies," for example, returned results from merchants on Shopify, Amazon, and even Turbify (formerly Yahoo Stores), demonstrating a diverse and platform-agnostic approach.
These results often appear as rich snippets with images, and the AI also lists "Recommended Sellers" to guide users. This multi-platform integration makes ChatGPT a more comprehensive tool for product discovery.
Understanding ChatGPTs Shopping Features
ChatGPT's shopping functionality leverages structured data to present product information effectively. The AI uses details like images, prices, and descriptions—presumably from Schema metadata—to generate product titles, descriptions, and even summarized reviews.
The ranking of merchants is influenced by the data received from its third-party providers, which now officially include both Bing and Shopify. This system allows the AI to curate product listings that are both informative and visually appealing.
How Other Merchants Can Get Featured
OpenAI has created a path for e-commerce stores not hosted on Shopify to be included in its shopping results. Merchants interested in this opportunity can apply to have their products included through an official portal. A key requirement for consideration is that the store must not be blocking OpenAI’s web crawler, OAI-SearchBot, from accessing its site.
