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

Ride-hailing giant Bolt has launched an integration with ChatGPT, opening its platform to the AI chatbot’s 900 million weekly users. The move highlights how AI assistants are increasingly serving as gateways for consumer services. Upon integration, Bolt users across all markets can search for rides within ChatGPT, compare routes, receive fare estimates, and view driver arrival times before booking through the Bolt app.

This expansion marks one of Bolt’s most significant product growths beyond its standalone mobile app, reflecting a broader industry trend as tech companies accelerate embedding services directly into AI-powered conversational interfaces. Senior General Manager for Bolt West Africa, Teddy Appah-Dankyi, stated that "People no longer plan their evenings in five different apps.

A lot of that planning happens in one conversation with AI now." He added, "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."

At launch, payments remain processed through the Bolt app after being redirected from ChatGPT. The company intends to introduce in-chat payments later this year, streamlining the booking process further. The rollout is simultaneous across all markets where Bolt operates, rather than being phased in country by country.

This integration aligns with a broader industry shift, as technology firms rush to position AI assistants as the primary interface through which consumers search, plan, and purchase services, reducing dependence on traditional mobile apps. Research by Accenture shows that 80% of global travelers now use AI tools when planning trips, with over half willing to let AI manage their travel arrangements.

Bolt operates in over 50 countries and serves more than 200 million customers with its ride-hailing, car-sharing, scooter, and e-bike rental services.