Klarna Taps ChatGPT to Personalize Shopping

  • Klarna partnered with OpenAI to offer ChatGPT users curated product recommendations.
  • When users download the Klarna plug-in, they will be able to receive links from ChatGPT for curated products.
  • The move comes as OpenAI rolls out plug-ins for a select set of users.

Payments innovator Klarna has teamed up with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT users what it calls a “smooth shopping experience” by serving as a product recommendation engine.

Klarna is leveraging OpenAI’s recently-announced plug-in to offer links to recommended products to users who ask ChatGPT for shopping advice. The links will route users to Klarna’s search and compare tool. The use case is not only helpful for users on the hunt for the best products, it also creates value for Klarna’s 500,000 retail partners seeking to reach broader audiences and acquire new customers.

ChatGPT’s Klarna shopping tool isn’t simply built-in for all users, however. There is a bit of friction involved. To use the shopping tool, shoppers must first install the Klarna plugin from ChatGPTs plugin store. Once it is installed, shoppers can ask the chatbot for relevant shopping ideas. If they don’t like the options provided, users can guide ChatGPT further with additional prompts or simply ask for more options. When consumers click on a link provided in the chat, they will be brought to Klarna’s search and compare tool.

“I’m super excited about our plugin with ChatGPT because it passes my ‘north star’ criteria that I call my ‘mom test’, i.e. would my mom understand and benefit from this. And it does because it’s easy to use and genuinely solves a ton of problems – it drives tremendous value for everyone,” said Klarna Co-founder and CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski. “Klarna is in a unique position to leverage the best technology and data to help people discover new products and solve problems for consumers at every stage of the shopping journey, and we’ll continue innovating to bring these services to our 150 million consumers.”

OpenAI announced the availability of ChatGPT plug-ins yesterday. The new capability will offer ChatGPT access to the internet, helping the chatbot offer users up-to-date information and use third-party services. At launch, other plug-ins include Expedia, Instacart, KAYAK, OpenTable, Shopify, Zapier, and more. The plug-ins are currently only available to a small number of developers and ChatGPT Plus users, but OpenAI will roll them out to more users over time.