Is This Right for My Store?
Honest answer: it depends on what you sell and who buys from you.
AI shopping works really well for some stores and isn’t worth the setup time for others. Let’s figure out which camp you’re in.
This Could Be Great for You If…
You sell products that people describe in words. Think “a warm sweater for fall” or “kitchen gadgets for someone who loves cooking.” When customers can naturally describe what they want, AI excels at matching them with the right product.
You have good product descriptions. AI relies on your product titles, descriptions, and categories to understand what you sell. If your product pages are detailed and accurate, AI can recommend them more effectively.
Your prices are competitive. When AI compares options across stores, it shows real prices. There’s no hiding behind confusing shipping costs or checkout surprises.
You ship to the US (for now). Instant Checkout is currently available for US customers. International expansion is coming, but if you’re US-focused, you can benefit today.
You’re on Shopify or Etsy. The easiest path right now is for merchants on these platforms. Custom integrations are possible but require developer work.
This Might Not Be Worth It (Yet) If…
You sell highly customized products. If every order needs a detailed conversation about specifications, sizes, materials, etc., the current system might be too simple for your needs.
You rely on in-person experiences. Services, appointments, or products that people want to see before buying don’t translate well to conversational commerce.
Your products require lots of explanation. Complex B2B products, professional services, or items that need consultation before purchase aren’t a natural fit.
You’re outside the US market. International support is coming but isn’t here yet. Wait for the expansion if most of your customers are elsewhere.
Find Your Natural Starting Point
Before diving in, look at your customer journeys. Where does friction hurt you most?
Just because you can enable AI shopping doesn’t mean you should enable it everywhere.
The smartest approach: identify the user journeys where conversational commerce solves a real problem. Trip planning in travel. Gift discovery in retail. Reordering in consumables.
Would my best customers find me through conversation?
Think about how people currently discover your products. If they typically search for specific terms or browse categories, AI shopping can help. If they find you through word-of-mouth, local presence, or professional networks, the impact will be smaller.
What kind of setup am I looking at?
| Your Situation | What’s Involved |
|---|---|
| Shopify store | Enable a setting, apply for access. Done in an afternoon. |
| Etsy shop | Apply through OpenAI’s merchant program. Straightforward process. |
| WooCommerce, Wix, BigCommerce, Squarespace | Use Stripe’s Agentic Commerce Suite — one integration, works across AI agents. |
| Custom platform | Use the Agentic Commerce Suite or build your own. Developer work required either way, but the Suite is faster. |
What does it cost?
The protocol itself is free. Here’s the fee structure:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Stripe processing | ~2.9% + $0.30 (your existing rate) |
| OpenAI transaction fee | Small percentage on completed purchases |
| Marketplace commission | None — you’re the merchant of record |
The trade-off: You gain access to ChatGPT’s 700M+ users, but OpenAI takes a cut. Compare this to marketplace fees (15-45%) — it’s still favorable, but factor it into your margins.
Current Limitations
Be aware of what Instant Checkout can’t do yet:
- Single-item purchases only — No multi-item carts (for now)
- US merchants and buyers only — International expansion coming
- Simple products work best — Complex configurations aren’t supported yet
- Transactional only — ACP handles purchases, not customer support
What’s the risk?
Low. You can try it without changing anything about your existing store. AI shopping becomes an additional channel — it doesn’t replace your website, your other marketplaces, or anything else you’re doing.
If it doesn’t drive meaningful sales after a few months, you haven’t lost much.
Preparing Your Store for AI Discovery
Just like SEO made your content findable by search engines, AEO (Agent Engine Optimization) makes your products findable by AI agents.
What AI Agents Look For
| Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Structured product data | AI needs clean, well-organized info to understand what you sell |
| Competitive pricing | Agents compare across stores in real-time |
| Clear policies | Return policies, shipping info, guarantees — all readable |
| Good reviews | Social proof influences AI recommendations |
| Real-time inventory | Agents avoid recommending out-of-stock items |
Quick Wins
- Rich product descriptions — Include specs, use cases, and comparisons
- Consistent data structure — Same format across all products
- Up-to-date availability — Sync inventory in real-time
- Transparent policies — Make returns/shipping crystal clear
Deep dive: Checkout.com’s guide covers merchant preparation strategies in detail.
Ready to Move Forward?
If you’ve read this far and you’re thinking “yeah, this makes sense for my store” — here’s where to go next:
Shopify merchants: Head to your Shopify admin and look for the ChatGPT sales channel, or start with our setup guide.
Etsy sellers: Apply through OpenAI’s merchant program .
WooCommerce, Wix, BigCommerce, Squarespace: Check out Stripe’s Agentic Commerce Suite — it’s the fastest path.
Everyone else: Check the integration guide to see your options, or use the Agentic Commerce Suite for a managed solution.
Still Not Sure?
That’s fine. You can:
- See real examples of how different types of stores use this
- Read the FAQ for specific questions
- Wait and see how early adopters do before jumping in
There’s no urgency. The opportunity isn’t going away.