Bolt opens ride-hailing to ChatGPT’s 900m users

n n

Ride-hailing company Bolt on Monday said it has integrated its services with ChatGPT, opening its platform to the artificial intelligence chatbot’s roughly 900 million weekly users in a move that underscores how AI assistants are becoming a new gateway for consumer services.

n

The integration allows users in Nigeria and every other market where Bolt operates to search for rides within ChatGPT, compare route options, receive upfront fare estimates, and view driver arrival times before completing the booking in the Bolt app.

n

The launch marks one of Bolt’s biggest product expansions beyond its standalone mobile application, reflecting a broader industry shift as technology companies race to embed services directly into AI-powered conversational interfaces.

n

“People don’t plan their evening in five different apps anymore. A lot of that planning happens in one conversation with AI now,” Senior General Manager for Bolt West Africa, Teddy Appah-Dankyi, said in a statement.

n

“For years, booking a ride meant opening a dedicated ride-hailing app. As more everyday interactions take place through AI, we think requesting a ride should be just as straightforward: ask, see the price, and go,” he said.

n

At launch, users will still complete payments through the Bolt app after being redirected from ChatGPT. The company said it plans to introduce in-chat payments later this year, removing another step in the booking process.

n

The rollout comes as technology companies increasingly compete to position AI assistants as the primary interface through which consumers search, plan and purchase services, reducing reliance on traditional mobile apps.

n

Bolt cited research by Accenture showing that 80 per cent of travellers globally now use AI tools when planning trips, while more than half are willing to let AI manage their travel arrangements. The survey covered more than 18,000 consumers across 14 countries.

n

The company said the ChatGPT integration was launched simultaneously across all markets where Bolt operates, rather than being introduced country by country.

n

Founded in Estonia, Bolt operates in more than 50 countries and over 850 cities, providing ride-hailing, car-sharing, scooter and e-bike rental services. The platform serves more than 200 million customers and works with over 4.5 million drivers worldwide.

n

The move also deepens the growing relationship between generative AI and digital commerce, as companies seek to make services discoverable within conversational AI platforms rather than relying solely on dedicated applications or search engines.

n n