ChatGPT will allow users to converse with verified ‘Business Agents,’ agents that represent a brand and can help them, for example, compare products before a purchase. This feature will first be offered to ‘eligible’ e-commerce and online services businesses in the United States. It is part of a suite of features for businesses, announced in beta.
One Agent Per Business
A user can start a conversation with a Business Agent when a company that has created one appears in a ChatGPT response. In this exchange, they can question the agent about the company’s offerings and ask follow-up questions, for example about the differences between two products. Companies define their agent’s instructions and provide it with context so it knows how to respond.
According to OpenAI, these conversations will be clearly labeled and separated from the main conversation with ChatGPT. To ensure the user knows they are speaking to an agent representing the company, the company can claim its organization and be verified through a feature called Business Hub. OpenAI did not specify its verification methods, as they vary by company, said Benji Shomair, vice president of monetization, during a press briefing.
Data for Businesses
Business Hub will also give businesses metrics, including the number of times their brand is mentioned in ChatGPT responses and the main ‘discovery topics,’ meaning the subjects under which they appear.
In a blog post, OpenAI presented this announcement as ‘a first step to bring more businesses into ChatGPT.’ ‘We’re starting with the foundations: reliable information about businesses, useful metrics, and exchanges that help people make informed decisions,’ the company wrote. It added that it ‘will explore more ways for businesses to connect with their customers, directly or through agents, in ChatGPT and beyond.’ Its goal, it says, is to ‘make ChatGPT more useful for people making decisions, and give businesses new ways to participate and grow.’
