Bolt, has integrated its ride-hailing service with ChatGPT, allowing users to search for, compare, and book rides through the AI chatbot.
The feature is now available across all Bolt markets, including eight African countries where the company operates in more than 90 cities. Through the integration, ChatGPT’s estimated 900 million weekly active users can check fare estimates, view available ride options, and request a ride before completing the booking in the Bolt app.
The rollout reflects the growing role of generative AI in everyday decision-making, from planning trips to ordering services. According to Google’s Our Life with AI survey, conducted with Ipsos, 62% of Nigerians and 51% of South Africans used generative AI in 2025 for daily tasks such as planning travel, meals, and workout routines.
While OpenAI has not disclosed the size of its user base in Africa, ChatGPT adoption is accelerating across the continent and wider Asia. By integrating with the chatbot, Bolt is positioning itself to reach that expanding audience while strengthening its presence in Africa’s ride-hailing market, which is projected to reach $3.25 billion by 2031.
“People don’t plan their evening in five different apps anymore. A lot of that planning happens in one conversation with AI now,” said Caroline Wanjihia, Bolt’s Regional Director for Rides Operations in Africa and Southeast Asia.
“For years, booking a ride meant opening a dedicated ride-hailing app. As more everyday interactions happen through AI, we think requesting a ride should be just as straightforward: ask, see the price, and go.”
To use the feature, customers must first enable Bolt through ChatGPT’s Apps or Plugins directory, where third-party services connect with the AI assistant. Once activated, users can simply ask ChatGPT to book a ride. The chatbot responds with available ride categories, estimated fares, expected arrival times, and a suggested pickup location.
After a ride is selected, users are redirected to the Bolt app with the trip details already filled in, allowing them to confirm the booking. Payments are still processed within the Bolt app using the customer’s existing payment methods, including cards and digital wallets.
The launch comes as Africa’s ride-hailing industry continues to evolve under new regulatory frameworks.
In Kenya, the Ministry of Roads and Transport proposed new rules in July that would require platforms such as Bolt and Uber to guarantee drivers a minimum fare per trip. If approved, the proposal could nearly double the country’s current base fare of around KES220 ($1.70).
South Africa has also tightened oversight of the sector. Amendments to the National Land Transport Act, which took effect in September 2025, formally recognised e-hailing as a category of public transport. The regulations require ride-hailing operators to obtain operating licences, register with regulators, display platform branding on vehicles, and introduce additional safety features, including panic buttons.
For now, the ChatGPT integration covers ride discovery and booking, with payments still handled separately through the Bolt app. However, the company says it plans to eventually enable payments directly within ChatGPT, allowing users to complete the entire ride-booking process without leaving the AI assistant.
