The world is inching closer to end-to-end artificial intelligence (AI)-powered travel booking in chat, and the payments layer is essential to achieving that goal.

In September, Stripe and OpenAI announced “Instant Checkout” within ChatGPT, powered by a co-developed, merchant-friendly open-standard called “Agentic Commerce Protocol.”

“By co-developing the Agentic Commerce Protocol with Stripe, we’re making it possible for businesses of all sizes to meet people where they are—and for shoppers to complete purchases seamlessly in conversation,” Fidji Simo, CEO of applications for OpenAI, said in a release.

The launch enabled ChatGPT users to purchase from U.S.-based Etsy stores in chat, and more than a million Shopify merchants, including big-name brands like Spanx, Skims and Glossier, will be available soon.

The ability to complete transactions in ChatGPT indicates that AI travel distribution is no longer “theoretical,” according to Mike Coletta, senior manager of research and innovation at Phocuswright.

And for Damien Cramer, senior vice president of global travel for Nuvei, the launch represents a “first real step toward agentic commerce.”

“In travel, that could mean AI systems coordinating directly with multiple providers such as airlines, hotels and transport to find the best itinerary and automatically confirm bookings,” Cramer said.

Other major players are leaning into the possibility of agentic payments as well: Google has partnered with Paypal to launch an agentic commerce solution, and Visa is looking at advancing AI commerce too.

Read the full article at Phocuswire