In short. The selling merchant is the merchant of record for ChatGPT Instant Checkout and handles payments with its own payment service provider.
Definition: As of 17 October 2026, the selling merchant is the merchant of record for ChatGPT Instant Checkout: it accepts the order and processes payment through its own payment service provider (PSP). ChatGPT provides the checkout interface and exchanges purchase information with the merchant, as described in OpenAI's Agentic Commerce key concepts.
Key facts
- OpenAI's key concepts documentation assigns order validation, fulfilment options and sales tax calculation to the merchant.
- The Delegated Payment Spec leaves settlement, refunds, chargebacks and compliance with the merchant and its PSP.
- The Agentic Checkout Spec requires merchant systems to send order creation and update events to OpenAI so the buyer's view stays consistent.
Who accepts the order and charges the payment method?
OpenAI's key concepts documentation describes the Agentic Commerce Protocol as the connection through which ChatGPT exchanges checkout information with merchant systems. ChatGPT collects the buyer's payment and fulfilment information. The merchant evaluates payment and risk signals, accepts or declines the order, and charges the payment method using its existing processor. ChatGPT then displays the confirmation or decline.
A delegated payment passes payment credentials through a restricted token. Under the Delegated Payment Spec, the merchant's PSP or payment vault receives the delegated payment and returns a token. OpenAI forwards that token during checkout completion. Its permitted use is bounded by a maximum amount and an expiry.
How does the merchant control fulfilment?
A checkout session holds the items, fulfilment information and payment information for a purchase. OpenAI's Agentic Checkout Spec documents these merchant endpoints for creating, updating and completing it:
POST /checkout_sessions
POST /checkout_sessions/{checkout_session_id}
POST /checkout_sessions/{checkout_session_id}/complete
The merchant's response supplies available fulfilment options and their costs through fulfillment_options. Updated session responses return the cart state for display and validation, including changes to shipping. On completion, the merchant confirms order creation and returns the final cart and order identifiers.
The same specification uses webhooks, which are event notifications sent by merchant systems, to report order.created and order.updated. Documented order statuses include shipped and fulfilled.
What remains with the merchant after purchase?
The Delegated Payment Spec explicitly keeps settlement and payment disputes with the merchant and its PSP, alongside refunds and compliance. Delegating the payment credential preserves these operational responsibilities.
For order access, the Agentic Checkout Spec requires an order's permalink_url. A customer visiting that URL should need to supply at most an email address to view order details. The webhook order object also includes a list of refunds already issued.
Related terms
FAQ
Does OpenAI process refunds for an Instant Checkout order?
OpenAI's Delegated Payment Spec assigns refunds to the merchant and its PSP. The same allocation applies to chargebacks and settlement.
Can any merchant enable Instant Checkout immediately?
OpenAI's key concepts documentation limits Instant Checkout participation to approved partners and provides an application form. Building with the Agentic Commerce Protocol is open to all.
Sources
- OpenAI, "Key concepts", undated, accessed 17 October 2026
- OpenAI, "Delegated Payment Spec", undated, accessed 17 October 2026
- OpenAI, "Agentic Checkout Spec", undated, accessed 17 October 2026
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