Close-up of a smartphone screen displaying the ChatGPT interface with a holographic "UPI" payment confirmation badge and rupee symbols.

ChatGPT UPI payments now live via NPCI & Razorpay pilot — users can shop Bigbasket directly inside the chat

Priyanshu Khatri, Chief AI Analyst

SoulAI Writes

I am the Chief AI Analyst at SoulAI Writes, where I deliver Real-World AI Testing, Expert Analysis, and Trusted Insights to guide you through the generative AI revolution. With over 3+ years of intensive testing across 300+ platforms, I don’t just review software; I master the ecosystem. My expertise covers every category on this site—from ChatGPT & Alternatives (Gemini, Claude, DeepSeek, Kimi K2, etc.) to AI Image Generators and AI Video Tools (Google Nano Banana, Google Veo, Seedream, MidJourney, Leonardo, Sora, RunwayML, Kling, Higgsfield, etc.) Beyond basic reviews, I create detailed AI Tool Reviews, AI Tutorials, AI Comparisons, AI News & Updates and Pricing Guides for every need. I rigorously test Free AI Tools, AI Audio/Voice synthesis (Suno AI, ElevenLabs etc.), specialized agents for coding (GitHub Copilot, Julius AI & Sonnet) and research/writing (NotebookLM, Jasper, Gamma, Scispace, Scite & Elicit, etc.). My unique expertise comes from comparing multiple versions of each tool, analyzing quality improvements, and real-world implementation across diverse projects. I translate complex capabilities into practical Workflow Guides, delivering the “Gold Standard” of unbiased testing to help you save time and money.

Table of Contents

ChatGPT UPI Payments: Is This the End of Shopping Apps?

Q: Do I need a ChatGPT Plus subscription to use this?

During the pilot phase, ChatGPT UPI payments are being tested with a mix of free and Plus users. Eventually, it is expected to be a standard feature for all Indian users.

Imagine ordering your weekly groceries without opening a shopping app, scrolling through endless catalogs, or switching between payment windows. You simply type, “Order fresh vegetables and milk for the week,” and your AI assistant handles the rest—including the payment. This is no longer a futuristic concept. As of January 16, 2026, ChatGPT UPI payments have officially moved from a theoretical concept to a live pilot program that is reshaping how we transact in India.

I have tracked the evolution of digital payments for years, but the integration of ChatGPT UPI payments marks a distinct shift. OpenAI has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Razorpay to embed transaction capabilities directly into the chat interface. This means you can now browse, select, and pay for items on platforms like Bigbasket without ever leaving your conversation.

This integration represents the dawn of “Agentic Commerce,” where AI does not just retrieve information—it takes action. However, with great convenience comes serious questions about security and control. Is it safe to let an AI handle your money? How do ChatGPT UPI payments actually work under the hood?

In this detailed analysis, I will break down the mechanics of this new system, the safety protocols in place, and why this specific update is the most significant leap for Indian fintech in 2026.

Close-up first-person view of a smartphone screen displaying ChatGPT UPI payments interface with a green confirmation button, illustrating the new NPCI pilot feature analyzed by SoulAI Writes

What Are ChatGPT UPI Payments? (The 2026 Update)

The pilot program, originally announced in late 2025, has now matured into a functional pilot accessible to select users in India. ChatGPT UPI payments allow the AI to act as a secure intermediary between you (the user) and the merchant (e.g., Bigbasket).

This is not just a “link” that takes you to another app. The entire transaction happens natively. When you trigger ChatGPT UPI payments, the AI identifies your intent, builds the cart, and presents a secure UPI payment block directly in the chat stream.

Moreover, this initiative is powered by India’s robust Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which already processes over 20 billion transactions monthly. By leveraging this existing infrastructure, OpenAI ensures that ChatGPT UPI payments remain fast, familiar, and reliable.

The collaboration involves three key giants:

OpenAI: Provides the conversational interface and “Agentic” reasoning.
NPCI: Ensures regulatory compliance and secure payment switching.
Razorpay: Handles the payment gateway plumbing to ensure success rates remain high.

Read this article: ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini vs Perplexity: 2026 Showdown

Why ChatGPT UPI Payments Are Redefining Commerce

You might wonder why we need payments inside a chatbot when apps like GPay and PhonePe already exist. The answer lies in context. ChatGPT UPI payments remove the friction of context-switching.

1. The End of App Fatigue

Currently, if you want to buy salad ingredients, you open a grocery app, search for items, add them to a cart, and then switch to a payment app. With ChatGPT UPI payments, the process is linear. You stay in one window. The AI understands “salad ingredients,” finds them, and offers a payment button immediately.

2. Agentic AI is the New Standard

We are moving away from “Chatbots” that only talk. We are entering the era of “Agents” that do. ChatGPT UPI payments are the first major test of autonomous financial agents in India. If this pilot succeeds with Bigbasket, we will likely see integrations with Zomato, Uber, and generic utility billers shortly.

3. Financial Inclusion via Voice

One of the most promising aspects of ChatGPT UPI payments is the potential for voice-activated transactions. For millions of users who are uncomfortable navigating complex graphical interfaces, speaking to an AI in their local language to send money or pay bills could be revolutionary.

Infographic illustrating the ChatGPT UPI payments workflow, comparing traditional multi-app purchasing against seamless Agentic Commerce using Razorpay and NPCI integration.

ChatGPT UPI Payments vs. Traditional Payment Apps

To help you understand the difference, I have compared the traditional method with the new AI-driven approach.

Feature	Traditional UPI Apps (GPay/PhonePe)	ChatGPT UPI Payments (AI-Integrated)
Primary Interface	Graphical Menus & Buttons	Natural Language Chat / Voice
Process Flow	Search -> Select -> Pay	Ask -> Confirm -> Pay
Context Switching	High (Switch between merchant & payment app)	Zero (All actions inside chat)
Personalization	Low (Generic suggestions)	High (AI knows your preferences)
Transaction Time	2-3 Minutes	30-60 Seconds
Target Audience	General Users	Smart Shoppers

How ChatGPT UPI Payments Work: The 2026 Workflow

The workflow for ChatGPT UPI payments is designed to be intuitive yet secure. Based on my testing of the pilot features, here is exactly how a transaction flows from start to finish.

Step 1: The Prompt

You initiate the process with a natural command.

User: “Order a 1kg pack of Tata Salt and 1kg Sugar from Bigbasket.”

Step 2: The Agentic Search

ChatGPT connects to the Bigbasket plugin (or integrated API). It confirms the items, checks availability, and presents a summary card.

AI: “I found Tata Salt (1kg) and Sugar (1kg). Total is ₹120. Shall I proceed to pay?”

Step 3: Triggering

ChatGPT UPI Payments Once you type “Yes,” the AI triggers the payment protocol. It does not ask for your PIN in the chat. Instead, it generates a secure “Pay” block.

Step 4: Authentication

You click the “Pay via UPI” button. Your phone’s biometric security (FaceID or Fingerprint) or your standard UPI PIN screen appears as an overlay. This ensures ChatGPT UPI payments never actually “see” your password.

Step 5: Confirmation

The overlay closes, and the chat updates instantly: “Payment Successful. Order #12345 confirmed.”

Read this article: ChatGPT Atlas Browser — Full Review, Features & Insights

Security Protocols for ChatGPT UPI Payments

Security is naturally the biggest concern. Is it safe? The short answer is yes, provided you understand the limits. ChatGPT UPI payments operate under strict guidelines set by the RBI and NPCI.

The “Human-in-the-Loop” Rule

The AI cannot spend your money autonomously. Every instance of ChatGPT UPI payments requires explicit human confirmation. The AI prepares the transaction, but you pull the trigger.

Tokenized Credentials

OpenAI does not store your bank account details. The system uses “Tokenization,” meaning ChatGPT UPI payments use a unique, encrypted code for each transaction. Even if the chat history were leaked, your banking info remains safe.

Revocation Capabilities

A key feature of the pilot is “Real-Time Revocation.” If you realize you made a mistake mid-transaction, you can type “Cancel” or hit a dedicated stop button, and the AI agent instantly aborts the ChatGPT UPI payments request.

NPCI & RBI’s Vision for ChatGPT UPI Payments

This pilot is not happening in a vacuum. During the Global Fintech Fest, leaders from the NPCI and RBI outlined a broader vision where AI becomes the primary interface for digital finance.

The SLM Strategy

The NPCI is working on Small Language Models (SLM) specifically trained on financial data. These models will eventually power ChatGPT UPI payments to handle complex tasks like dispute resolution. Imagine asking, “Why did my last transaction fail?” and getting an instant, accurate answer from the AI.

IoT and Wearables

The success of ChatGPT UPI payments will likely pave the way for IoT payments. Soon, your smart TV or even your connected car could use similar “Agentic” protocols to pay for subscriptions or tolls automatically, governed by the same UPI framework.

Challenges Facing ChatGPT UPI Payments in 2026

Despite the excitement, the system is not flawless. There are real-world challenges that ChatGPT UPI payments must overcome before mass adoption.

1. Latency and Failures

AI models sometimes “hallucinate” or lag. If ChatGPT freezes during a payment, it creates panic. Ensuring 99.99% uptime for ChatGPT UPI payments is harder than ensuring uptime for a simple text response.

2. Fraud Detection

Bad actors will inevitably try to trick the AI. “Prompt Injection” attacks—where hackers try to confuse the AI into authorizing payments—are a real threat. OpenAI has implemented guardrails, but ChatGPT UPI payments will need constant security patches.

3. Merchant Adoption

Currently, only Bigbasket and a few others are compatible. For ChatGPT UPI payments to become a daily habit, we need thousands of merchants (Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato) to open their APIs to OpenAI’s system.

Conclusion

The integration of ChatGPT UPI payments is more than just a cool tech demo; it is a glimpse into the future of the internet. We are moving from a world of “Clicking” to a world of “Asking.” With the backing of India’s NPCI and the technical might of OpenAI, this pilot proves that AI agents are ready to handle real-world responsibilities.

While we must remain cautious about security and reliability, the convenience is undeniable. ChatGPT UPI payments have the potential to make digital commerce invisible, intuitive, and instant. As the pilot expands in 2026, the question isn’t whether you will use AI to pay—it is how soon you will wonder how you ever lived without it.

The era of “Chat, Click, Pay” is here. It saves your time, reduces your effort, and simplifies your digital life. That is a future worth investing in.