India’s digital payment landscape is entering a new chapter as OpenAI partners with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Razorpay to pilot a groundbreaking feature: enabling ChatGPT to complete UPI payments and order groceries from BigBasket directly within the chat interface. This move towards “agentic payments”—where AI agents actively manage transactions on users’ behalf—signals the next phase of conversational commerce.
How ChatGPT-Enabled UPI Payments Will Work
The pilot, currently available to a select user base outside the EU, allows customers to initiate and complete payments through UPI without switching apps or websites. With banking partners like Axis Bank and Airtel Payments Bank, as well as quick commerce platform BigBasket in early access, the feature leverages Razorpay’s payments stack to ensure fast, reliable transaction processing.
For example, a user can ask ChatGPT to “Order ingredients for vegetable curry for four from BigBasket,” and the chatbot will:
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Search the merchant’s catalog
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Present product options
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Confirm selection
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Place the order via Razorpay’s UPI solution—all within the conversation
Users retain full control, with real-time order tracking and the option to instantly revoke requests if needed.
Security, Privacy, and User Controls
OpenAI, NPCI, and Razorpay have emphasized security:
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Transactions are conducted in compliance with RBI regulations and leverage bank-grade encryption.
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Users maintain approval authority at every step, with no autonomous purchases unless explicitly requested.
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No personal financial data is stored in the AI—the integrations run on secure, regulated fintech rails.
NPCI has also introduced biometric authentication for UPI transactions, allowing users to authorize payments via fingerprint or face unlock rather than typing a PIN, further supporting the move towards seamless, secure, and user-friendly payment experiences.
What Makes This Partnership Significant?
Unlike previous voice payment solutions (e.g., Google Assistant), this model directly integrates e-commerce and banking platforms with advanced conversational AI. ChatGPT can help users find products, evaluate options, and securely complete purchases, all hands-free within a single chat window.
The goal is to make digital shopping as simple as natural conversation—potentially improving conversion rates for merchants and empowering users, including those less comfortable with traditional payment flows.
Future Outlook and India’s Payment Ecosystem
The rollout is currently a pilot, with no confirmed timeline for nationwide general availability. As the pilot expands, additional merchants and services—such as travel booking, bill payments, and other commerce platforms—may be integrated.
OpenAI and NPCI have highlighted their intent to research further use cases for AI-powered payments, including enhanced personalization, fraud detection, bill management, and recommendations—all regulated for data privacy and accuracy.
India’s payment ecosystem stands to gain:
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Greater accessibility for first-time digital shoppers, the elderly, and those with limited digital literacy
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Streamlined experiences for frequent online buyers
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More versatile, secure payment options that fit India’s evolving digital habits
Conclusion
The partnership between OpenAI, NPCI, and Razorpay marks a pivotal moment for Indian fintech, blending world-leading UPI innovation with conversational AI. If scaled responsibly, agentic payments could redefine how Indians discover, purchase, and transact—making digital shopping simpler, safer, and more personal than ever before.
