Visa and Mastercard are stepping boldly into the future with the debut of AI-powered shopping platforms designed to handle purchases on behalf of consumers — turning routine transactions into intelligent, automated experiences.
Visa’s Intelligent Commerce: Letting AI Shop on Your Behalf
Visa’s new “Intelligent Commerce” platform empowers users to delegate everyday shopping tasks to AI agents. Whether it’s ordering groceries, booking a trip, or reordering household staples, these agents can search, compare, and even purchase items — all based on your preset preferences and spending limits.
To keep transactions secure, Visa uses tokenization and payment passkeys, adding a strong layer of protection while ensuring purchases remain frictionless. Users retain control, with AI agents handling the busywork but never bypassing final approval when needed.
Visa has partnered with major players like Microsoft, Samsung, Stripe, and several leading AI labs to ensure the technology integrates seamlessly across platforms.
Mastercard’s Agent Pay: Built for the Age of Conversational Commerce
Mastercard is taking a different but equally ambitious approach. Its “Agent Pay” service brings payment capabilities directly into AI-driven chat platforms. Picture this: You’re chatting with an AI about new running shoes, and it not only recommends a pair — it can buy them for you on the spot.
By embedding payment tools into the conversation itself, Mastercard is turning recommendations into real-time transactions — reducing friction and reimagining what online shopping can feel like.
Where E-Commerce Is Headed
Both companies are betting that tomorrow’s shoppers will expect faster, smarter, and more personalized digital experiences — with AI agents not just helping, but actively shopping on their behalf.
From impulse buys to daily essentials, AI-driven commerce is no longer a futuristic concept — it’s happening now, and it’s changing the way we interact with brands, platforms, and purchases.
