Monday, January 5, 2026

Brands Are Building ChatGPT Apps — And I Told You They Would

Today’s practical post: an “I told you so” moment.

Two months ago, I wrote that brands should start building apps for ChatGPT. I thought it would take longer to matter — but on that point, I was wrong.

In just a few weeks, major companies have launched ChatGPT apps that let consumers interact directly with their products and services through AI. This isn’t theory anymore — it’s happening:

  • Target — ChatGPT app live. Discuss design preferences and see results.
  • Zillow — find homes through AI.
  • Instacart — plan groceries by conversation.
  • Uber — book rides via ChatGPT.
  • StubHub — discover events directly inside chat.

What brand do you think should build a ChatGPT app next? The shift is happening faster than most expected, and it’s reshaping how people interact with brands.

According to new research from PYMNTS.com, based on a survey of ~2,100 consumers:

  • Over 60% of consumers used a dedicated AI platform in the past year — AI is mainstream.
  • More than one-third of Gen Z and “Power Users” now start their personal tasks in AI, not search.
  • 42% of those users rely on traditional search engines less often.

This isn’t a gimmick. Forget “SEO for AI.”

Integration into AI — with customizable, frictionless, conversational transaction enablement (phew, what a phrase 😄) — will be the expected starting point for consumer engagement in less than a year.

People are talking to AI and expect brands to talk back.

Follow HappyAIPath for more practical AI insights on how it’s reshaping the way companies work — in real time.

P.S. All dashes were made of my own free will 🤣

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