OpenAI Introduces Business Profiles in ChatGPT to Help Companies Manage Their Presence

OpenAI has introduced a new feature called Businesses in ChatGPT, enabling companies to claim and manage their profiles directly within the AI chatbot. The announcement was made on Tuesday, November 10, and positions ChatGPT as a platform for business discovery, akin to Google Search.

The feature includes a Business Hub where eligible companies can verify their identities, update business information, and track user interactions. Currently in beta, it also offers specialized AI agents that can answer questions about businesses and their products. This launch is part of OpenAI's efforts to expand ChatGPT's role in helping users discover products, compare services, and make purchasing decisions.

Through the Business Hub, companies can manage the information that appears about them in ChatGPT. After completing a verification process, businesses can update details about their products and services. Eligible retailers can also provide product information, including pricing and availability, via product feeds. The system resembles Google's Business Profile service, which allows companies to maintain information in Google Search and Maps.

However, OpenAI has not disclosed the exact verification requirements for every business. Benji Shomair, OpenAI's vice president of monetization, said that the company uses different verification methods depending on the type of business and its location. The Business Hub is currently available in beta to eligible companies.

OpenAI is also introducing analytics that allow companies to monitor how users discover and interact with their businesses through ChatGPT. This move signals OpenAI's ambition to make ChatGPT a central hub for business-customer interactions, potentially challenging established players like Google.