Co-branded cards proposed as a potential revenue channel for AI agents

A co-branded credit card could give an AI agent a way to earn revenue from transactions, with possible rewards paid in tokens or other benefits and fees captured when users pay. The idea was discussed in the context of Instinct, a personal AI agent, as an alternative or complement to building partnerships such as one with Shopify; no card launch was announced.

The proposal also addresses a gap in referrals: ChatGPT can help users find local service providers that may have no referral program, leaving the service without a direct benefit. Card payments could link purchases to an AI account, while providers are already accustomed to transaction fees.