TL;DR
OpenAI launched a beta on November 10 that lets businesses claim ChatGPT profiles, provide product information and track aggregated engagement. The company also acquired travel startup Odessia; separate media reports put third-quarter revenue at about $10 billion and operating losses at $10.9 billion.
The beta, called Businesses in ChatGPT, has two components. In Business Hub, companies can claim and verify a profile, update business details, add product feeds with pricing and availability, and view aggregated figures such as mentions, profile views and website clicks. OpenAI has not publicly detailed all of its verification procedures.
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Eligible U.S. e-commerce and online service businesses can also offer Business Agents. A user who encounters a participating company in a ChatGPT answer can open a separate conversation with its agent to ask about the company’s offerings. Businesses supply the agent’s instructions and information. OpenAI says these chats are labeled and separated from the user’s main conversation.
OpenAI said it does not share users’ conversations or Business Agent chats with businesses. The company also said profile insights appear only after activity passes certain thresholds. Businesses can sponsor their agents and use them as destinations for ChatGPT Ads; sponsored placements are labeled, according to the launch coverage.
Businesses Enter ChatGPT Discovery
The launch gives companies a way to manage business information and measure some of the attention they receive through ChatGPT. Businesses can view mentions, profile views and website clicks, though these measures do not establish whether that exposure leads to sales.
Business Agents provide a route from a ChatGPT response to a conversation about a company’s offerings. Businesses can also sponsor agents as destinations for ads. OpenAI says sponsored placements are labeled.
Media reports put OpenAI’s third-quarter revenue at about $10 billion and its operating losses at $10.9 billion.
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From Shopping Tests to Business Tools
OpenAI describes the beta as an early step toward bringing businesses into ChatGPT. The company said the initial tools focus on business information, insights and conversations that can help users make decisions. Existing OpenAI Enterprise customers and advertisers can claim businesses through their OpenAI representative; Shopify merchants can connect through Business Hub or Shopify’s admin tools, according to reports on the launch.
OpenAI previously tried to make ChatGPT a shopping destination with direct checkout and commissions. TechCrunch reported that the effort did not gain traction and was retired in March. The new beta instead centers on business profiles, product feeds and company-run agents. OpenAI also said in August that ChatGPT Ads had reached a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate.
The three developments on November 10 are related by their potential role in ChatGPT’s commercial growth, but they are separate: a product launch, an acquisition announcement and financial figures reported by news organizations.
“Davidson announced that OpenAI acquired Odessia and that he is joining OpenAI.”
— Francis Davidson, Odessia founder
Terms, Verification and Finances
OpenAI has not disclosed the terms of the Odessia acquisition. The company has also not published financial statements confirming the reported third-quarter revenue or operating-loss figures. The Information first reported revenue of about $10 billion; Bloomberg reported nearly 50% growth over the prior quarter, citing a person familiar with the matter. Reuters reported the Wall Street Journal’s figure of $10.9 billion in operating losses. These remain media reports, not audited figures released by OpenAI.
Details of Business Hub verification, the thresholds for displaying insights and the beta’s broader availability remain limited. The launch material does not establish how representative the early engagement metrics will be or how often users will see Business Agents in responses. OpenAI says conversations are not shared with businesses, but the full operational details of the privacy safeguards have not been described in the cited coverage.
What the Beta Reveals Next
OpenAI’s next step is to expand or refine the beta as businesses claim profiles, connect product feeds and begin using Business Agents. The company has not announced a timetable for access beyond the eligible U.S. businesses described at launch. Businesses and users will be able to assess the tools as access widens and the profile and agent features appear in more ChatGPT interactions.
Further information about verification, privacy protections and sponsored agent placement would clarify how the system works. OpenAI could also publish financial results or provide additional details on Odessia, but it has not announced when it will do so.
Key Questions
What did OpenAI launch on November 10?
OpenAI launched a beta called Businesses in ChatGPT. It includes Business Hub profiles and Business Agents for eligible U.S. e-commerce and online service companies.
What can a business do with a ChatGPT profile?
A business can claim and verify its profile, update details, add product information with pricing and availability, and see aggregated mentions, views and website clicks, according to launch reports.
Did OpenAI confirm it earned $10 billion in the third quarter?
No. The roughly $10 billion revenue figure was reported by The Information, with Bloomberg reporting nearly 50% quarter-over-quarter growth. OpenAI has not published financial statements confirming the figures.
What is known about the Odessia acquisition?
Founder Francis Davidson announced that OpenAI acquired the AI travel startup and that he is joining OpenAI. The acquisition terms have not been disclosed.
Source: Thorsten Meyer AI
