ChatGPT opens business profiles and mention insights, with US agents in beta

OpenAI launched Businesses in ChatGPT in beta on November 10, letting companies manage information shown about them and review mentions and website clicks through Business Hub. Customer-facing Business Agents initially serve eligible ecommerce and online service businesses in the United States.

Businesses can supply descriptions, websites and product feeds with prices and availability. Shopify merchants can connect their stores; Shopify is optional. Claiming initially covers eligible businesses with a website. Profile management and agent eligibility are assessed separately.

Owners or authorized representatives can claim a business. OpenAI’s setup documentation requires an additional identity-verification step after claim approval before publishing information changes, accessing insights or creating an eligible agent.

Insights cover the past 28 days. An online-business mention counts when ChatGPT references its website; naming the brand alone does not count. For a local business, showing a result for that location counts. Discovery topics group common themes in answers citing or mentioning the business.

OpenAI says businesses do not receive individual prompts, consumer conversations or chats with their agents. Aggregate insights appear only after activity meets reporting thresholds.

Business conversations carry their own label

Users can select an available agent from a business profile reached through a ChatGPT answer. The agent answers product and policy questions using information supplied by the business. Its conversation is labeled as AI representing that business and separated from the original ChatGPT chat. Current documentation directs purchases, bookings and order checks to the company’s website.

Businesses prepare instructions and information, test the agent and separately choose to publish it. Connecting a feed or previewing an agent does not publish it. An agent can also become a destination for ChatGPT Ads, with sponsored placements labeled separately.

Agent policies require truthful representation and accurate information. The agent must identify itself as AI representing the business, with truthful ownership, qualifications and affiliations. Instructions that pressure customers after refusal or manufacture urgency are prohibited.

Collecting necessary contact details must use an approved feature and the user’s choice. Sharing information with a business or submitting forms, bookings or purchases requires explicit authorization. The policy also restricts requesting unnecessary high-risk information, including health or authentication details, or using it for a sales pitch.

Businesses must have rights to submitted photos and logos and protect other people’s private or sensitive information. Profile policies require current business details and prohibit fabricated reviews, unsupported guarantees and promotions hiding material fees or conditions. OpenAI can reject content or restrict profile management. It says businesses remain responsible even though it does not verify every detail or resolve every factual dispute.

Terms updated November 9 assign businesses responsibility for their data and for testing agent accuracy and safety. OpenAI can supplement claimed profiles with information from other sources. The terms give a perpetual, irrevocable display-use license for basic publicly submitted details such as names, addresses, contact information, hours and websites.

OpenAI says claiming a business does not guarantee higher placement or sales. Its setup guide currently limits local shops and restaurants to claiming existing US listings. Online-business access also depends on location, category and verification support. No firm schedule was announced for extending Business Agents to more markets or categories.