OpenAI Partners with Shopify for Enhanced Shopping Search
OpenAI has recently added Shopify as a third-party search partner to improve its shopping search capabilities. This partnership allows OpenAI to provide more comprehensive and accurate shopping results, making it easier for users to find products from various merchants.
The Discovery of Shopify as a Search Partner
The addition of Shopify as a search partner was first noticed by Aleyda Solís, who discovered the update in OpenAI’s Search documentation. The documentation now lists Shopify alongside Bing as a third-party search provider, indicating a significant expansion of OpenAI’s shopping search capabilities. This update was made on May 15, 2025, shortly after OpenAI announced its enhanced shopping experience on April 28.
OpenAI’s Shopping Search Capabilities
OpenAI’s shopping search is designed to return results from a variety of platforms, including Shopify and other ecommerce sites. For example, a search for "hunting dog supplies" returns results from sites hosted on Shopify, as well as Turbify (formerly Yahoo Stores). The search results include rich snippets with images, prices, and product descriptions, making it easier for users to find what they’re looking for.
Origin of Shopping Rich Results
The rich results with images are sourced from merchants on Shopify and Amazon, providing users with a more comprehensive shopping experience. Additionally, OpenAI’s Recommended Sellers feature lists merchants from multiple platforms, including Turbify. This demonstrates OpenAI’s ability to aggregate data from various sources and provide users with a wide range of shopping options.
How OpenAI Shopping Features Work
OpenAI’s shopping features use images and structured metadata related to prices and product descriptions to provide users with accurate and relevant results. The platform may generate product titles, descriptions, and reviews based on the data received from third-party websites. Merchants are ranked according to how their data is received from third-party providers, which currently includes Bing and Shopify.
Inclusion of Ecommerce Stores in OpenAI Shopping Results
Ecommerce stores that aren’t on Shopify can still apply to have their products included in OpenAI’s shopping results. To be eligible, stores must not be opted out of OpenAI’s web crawler, OAI-SearchBot. This allows merchants to increase their visibility and reach a wider audience through OpenAI’s shopping search.
Conclusion
The partnership between OpenAI and Shopify marks a significant improvement in OpenAI’s shopping search capabilities. With the ability to return results from multiple platforms, OpenAI provides users with a more comprehensive and accurate shopping experience. As OpenAI continues to expand its shopping features, ecommerce merchants can expect increased visibility and reach, making it easier for them to connect with customers and drive sales.