OpenAI rolled out a new Business Hub for ChatGPT in November 2026, allowing companies to create verified profiles, deploy specialized business agents, and access basic performance analytics — features that position the AI platform as a consumer discovery tool similar to Google Search.
The Business Hub, currently in beta, lets eligible companies verify and update information about their products and services through a formal verification process. OpenAI’s VP of Monetization, Benji Shomair, told journalists the company uses “multiple verification methods that we use for different types of business in different markets,” though further details were not shared.
Businesses that create profiles can also launch a specialized agent that allows ChatGPT users to ask questions directly about that company and its offerings. In addition, the hub provides limited analytics — including profile views, business mentions, and website clicks — giving companies a window into how ChatGPT users interact with their listings.
“As people turn to AI to discover products, compare options and make decisions, ChatGPT has become the platform for people and businesses to connect through AI,” OpenAI said in its announcement. “Today’s announcement is an early step in bringing businesses more deeply into ChatGPT.”
The launch follows an earlier and unsuccessful attempt by OpenAI to make ChatGPT a direct e-commerce platform. That effort, which included a checkout cart feature and a commission-based revenue model, was retired in March 2026 after failing to gain traction.
With business profiles and analytics now in place, ChatGPT appears to be moving toward the role Google has long held as the primary place consumers go to research companies before making purchases. Whether this approach will prove more durable than the abandoned e-commerce model remains to be seen.
Source: TechCrunch