ChatGPT Now Enables UPI Payments: NPCI and OpenAI Launch Pilot Project for Seamless AI Shopping
A major revolution in the world of online shopping is unfolding as artificial intelligence and India’s homegrown payment system come together. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), in collaboration with fintech leader Razorpay and OpenAI, has introduced a pilot project enabling UPI-based payments directly through ChatGPT. This initiative aims to make online transactions faster, safer, and more interactive — marking a new era of AI-driven e-commerce.
UPI Shopping Through ChatGPT
Under this pilot project, users can shop directly within ChatGPT by using India’s popular digital payment network, Unified Payments Interface (UPI). With this feature, users can simply chat with ChatGPT to search for products, get recommendations, and make payments without leaving the chat window.
According to a report by Reuters, Axis Bank and Airtel Payments Bank are among the key financial institutions participating in this initiative. Initially, the pilot will allow users to make purchases from BigBasket, Tata Group’s e-commerce platform, offering a seamless shopping experience integrated with AI-powered conversation and UPI payment support.
A Step Toward AI-Powered Commerce
The project is not just about payments — it’s about creating a new ecosystem where AI can assist users throughout their shopping journey. From browsing to checkout, every step can be managed through a simple conversation.
OpenAI’s International Strategy Director Oliver Jay said, “We’re excited to collaborate with NPCI and integrate AI with one of the world’s most trusted payment systems — UPI. This will mark the beginning of a new era of secure and effortless commerce.”
Through this collaboration, OpenAI aims to explore how conversational AI can streamline digital transactions, automate purchases, and ensure safety in financial interactions.
Purpose Behind the Pilot
The main goal of the pilot program is to understand how artificial intelligence can enhance UPI’s existing capabilities. By combining ChatGPT’s conversational intelligence with UPI’s speed and security, developers hope to design a model that could simplify online payments for millions of users.
The partnership will also analyze how AI-based payment systems can be scaled across sectors — including e-commerce, digital banking, and retail — to make transactions faster and more personalized.
India’s Growing UPI Ecosystem
UPI has already transformed India’s digital economy. The system processes over 20 billion transactions each month, making it one of the largest real-time payment networks in the world. With the introduction of AI into this system, India continues to set global benchmarks in fintech innovation.
By integrating ChatGPT with UPI, users can not only chat and shop but also enjoy an entirely hands-free, intelligent payment experience. This is especially useful for small businesses, digital service providers, and individual sellers who can easily connect with customers through conversational interfaces.
NPCI’s Broader AI Initiatives
The announcement comes shortly after NPCI unveiled several AI-driven initiatives at the Global Fintech Fest 2025. These include:
-
UPI Help (AI-Based Support): A feature powered by Small Language Models (SLMs) designed to assist users with payments, mandates, and dispute resolutions.
-
UPI Reserve Pay: A new system allowing users to manage credit limits securely for specific purposes.
-
IoT Payments: A groundbreaking innovation enabling transactions through connected devices such as smart TVs, wearables, and even cars.
These steps highlight NPCI’s commitment to making UPI not just a payment tool, but a complete financial ecosystem that adapts to the future of AI and automation.
What’s Next?
As of now, the ChatGPT-UPI integration remains in its pilot phase, available to a limited number of users. NPCI and OpenAI will continue monitoring its performance, security, and user response before rolling it out on a larger scale.
Once fully implemented, this could redefine how people shop online — turning every conversation into a potential transaction. The combination of ChatGPT’s conversational capabilities and UPI’s trusted payment infrastructure might soon make AI-assisted shopping the new normal in India’s digital economy.
