- PayPal is integrating its Honey extension with AI chatbots, starting with ChatGPT.
- The new features provide real time product links, prices, and discounts inside chat conversations.
- Honey can spot missing retailers in chatbot recommendations to help shoppers compare options.
- This launch follows recent controversies but marks a big step in PayPal’s agentic commerce strategy.
PayPal is taking a bold step into the future of shopping. The company announced new upgrades to its Honey browser extension that connect directly with popular AI chatbots like ChatGPT. These new features aim to help people discover products, compare prices, and find deals in real time while chatting with their favorite AI assistants.
This move comes as shoppers increasingly rely on AI tools to guide their online buying decisions. By integrating with AI chatbots, Honey is moving beyond being just a coupon finder. It is positioning itself as a partner in a growing trend called agentic commerce, where AI plays a central role in guiding consumers to purchase decisions.
Real Time Recommendations Inside Chatbots
Shoppers often start their product searches online by browsing marketplaces or typing into search engines. PayPal’s Honey wants to change that by stepping in where many now begin their shopping journey — inside an AI chatbot.
When a user asks an AI chatbot about the best sneakers, a new laptop, or a kitchen gadget, Honey’s extension will display product links alongside the chatbot’s recommendations. The tool will also pull in live prices, show different merchants, and highlight any available discounts.
One particularly useful feature is Honey’s ability to detect if the chatbot’s suggestions have overlooked big name retailers. When that happens, Honey will surface those missing options. This can give users a fuller picture of what is available, often leading to better deals.
PayPal believes this approach helps both shoppers and merchants. Consumers can easily compare prices and discover discounts without leaving the chatbot. Meanwhile, retailers gain more visibility at a time when AI search tools are starting to replace traditional web browsing.
Aiming for AI Agnostic Shopping
PayPal describes its new Honey features as AI agnostic, meaning they are built to work across many AI chatbots. However, the first partner is OpenAI’s ChatGPT, one of the most popular AI tools for everyday users. More AI integrations are expected to follow.
This flexibility is important because the competition in agentic commerce is heating up. Many AI platforms, including OpenAI itself, are exploring ways to guide users from product recommendations straight to checkout.
Just one day before PayPal’s announcement, OpenAI revealed its own agentic shopping system. The new feature includes an Instant Checkout option that starts with Etsy and plans to add Shopify merchants soon. While OpenAI’s offering is still limited in scope, it signals a shift in how online shopping may work in the near future.
Part of a Bigger Push in Agentic Commerce
The new Honey integration is not happening in isolation. It is part of PayPal’s larger investment in agentic commerce. Last month, PayPal joined forces with Google to explore advanced AI powered shopping solutions. The company also launched tools such as a remote MCP server and an Agent Toolkit to support merchants in this new era.
PayPal is sweetening the deal for consumers too. It is offering a free year of Perplexity’s premium service and free access to the new Comet browser, which is designed for a faster and more personalized web experience.
These moves show how PayPal is preparing for a future where shopping often begins with a question posed to an AI assistant rather than a traditional online search. By making Honey part of that conversation, the company hopes to keep its edge even as the landscape shifts.
Overcoming a Recent Wave of Controversy
The timing of Honey’s AI integration is notable because the brand has faced criticism in recent months. A popular YouTuber accused Honey of taking credit for sales that were actually driven by content creators. This controversy sparked lawsuits and cast a shadow over Honey’s reputation.
By focusing on innovation and practical benefits for both shoppers and merchants, PayPal appears to be steering the conversation back toward Honey’s core mission: helping users save money while simplifying the shopping process.
The AI powered expansion could also give Honey a fresh start with consumers who want more personalized and transparent shopping tools.
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