New Delhi: Microsoft is going to add built-in purchasing to Copilot, allowing users to complete transactions directly within the chat. When users ask Copilot for product recommendations, such as choosing a pair of sneakers, the chatbot can now present a checkout option for the selected item without requiring them to leave the conversation. Copilot is used to find a bedside lamp, along with the recommendation, the interface shows a details option for additional information and a buy button. Selecting the buy option opens an in-chat checkout flow where users can provide delivery and payment details and finalise the order, bypassing the retailer’s website entirely.
The in-chat checkout feature is currently rolling out on the Copilot web client in the US and is limited to a group of partner retailers, including Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Ashley Furniture, and select Etsy sellers. Microsoft has partnered with PayPal, Stripe, and Shopify to support payments, with wider retailer availability expected to expand over the coming weeks. This broadly aligns with how other AI companies are approaching shopping assistance. OpenAI’s ChatGPT focuses on product discovery, comparisons, and guiding users toward purchase decisions within their chat interfaces, while also enabling checkout.
Perplexity follows a similar approach when compared to Copilot and ChatGPT. Perplexity added a conversational shopping experience to its service, pairing with product discovery and an integrated checkout flow powered by PayPal. Google has allowed users to use AI to assist with discovery and comparisons while routing users to retailers for payment. It does not have an instant checkout option that would complete the payment without leaving the platform.
