Visa Says AI Will Start Shopping and Paying For You In 2026 (nerds.xyz) 81
BrianFagioli writes: Visa says it has completed hundreds of secure, AI-initiated transactions with partners, arguing this proves agent driven shopping is ready to move beyond experiments. The company believes 2025 will be the last full year most consumers manually check out, with AI agents handling purchases at scale by the 2026 holiday season. Nearly half of US shoppers already use AI tools for product discovery, and Visa wants to extend that shift all the way through payment using its Intelligent Commerce framework.
The pilots are already live in controlled environments, powering consumer and business purchases through AI agents tied to Visa's payment rails. To prevent abuse, Visa and partners have introduced a Trusted Agent Protocol to help merchants distinguish legitimate AI agents from bots, with Akamai adding fraud and identity controls. While the infrastructure may be ready, the bigger question is whether consumers fully understand the risks of letting software spend their money.
The pilots are already live in controlled environments, powering consumer and business purchases through AI agents tied to Visa's payment rails. To prevent abuse, Visa and partners have introduced a Trusted Agent Protocol to help merchants distinguish legitimate AI agents from bots, with Akamai adding fraud and identity controls. While the infrastructure may be ready, the bigger question is whether consumers fully understand the risks of letting software spend their money.
Visa can go suck a rock (Score:5, Insightful)
No way in hell. My money stays under my control, not under some questionable unreliable tool made by somebody that has entirely different motivations which likely are not to my benefit.
Re: (Score:2)
It would basically be whatever deals they have that give you X% off with their partners, but instead you get an actual product and billed for it.
Re: (Score:2)
It may be not about you. Look at all the high frequency trading stuff. They are using highly sophisticated algorithms that are expensive business secrets ... but don't you think they will start using AI as soon as it gets better than their hand crafted things? It's not like you need AI for your Christmas shopping, but it also isn't either that the stock market were dominated by human decisions.
Re:Visa can go suck a rock (Score:4, Insightful)
In my view currently giving AI access to your money is the absolute highest risk thing you could do and needs to be in a walled garden of funds with a zero line of credit. Right now I see this ending in tears for people who trust today's AI. First AI has to earn trust, and that is a big ask when even most major companies fail reach that bar for people like me. I get constant pitches to set up direct debit with companies to "make things simpler" which I have refused for decades. I don't even trust banks 100%, but use them as I don't know of a lower risk option.
Re: (Score:1)
Indeed. Add that the first AI agents have already been used for attacks on those running them and that hallucinations are unsolvable (!) in LLMs and this is a nice recipe for disaster.
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
hallucinations are unsolvable (!) in LLMs
Indeed. A simple fact you'd think would be obvious to anyone with even a superficial understanding...
I suspect the term 'hallucination' was coined specifically to make the phenomenon seem more like a software bug that can be fixed, rather than an inescapable consequence of the system working correctly.
Re: (Score:1)
I suspect the term 'hallucination' was coined specifically to make the phenomenon seem more like a software bug that can be fixed, rather than an inescapable consequence of the system working correctly.
Interesting Idea. I see I am still not suspicious enough. Sounds like a real possibility.
Re: (Score:2)
I suspect the term 'hallucination' was coined specifically to make the phenomenon seem more like a software bug that can be fixed, rather than an inescapable consequence of the system working correctly.
It was coined by the tech bros who refuse to acknowledge their baby that they're pouring $10billions into doesn't actually work.
Re: (Score:2)
HFT will not use LLM-type AI any time soon. Far, far too slow. And far too risky.
Re: (Score:2)
Highly sophisticated algorithms my ass.
HFTs do one and only one thing: arbitrage.
They take advantage of having a faster connection to an exchange than your broker so that they can buy first and sell it to your broker at a higher price, allowing them to pocket the difference without having added anything of value to the transaction.
All the BS about adding liquidity to the market is just that; BS. The transaction would go through just as well without HFT traders tacking on a profit margin for themselves.
Re: (Score:2)
Indeed. These assholes are 100% pure leeches. No positive contribution at all. In a sane world, this would be outlawed and send anybody doing it to prison. Or random delays would get added to each trade.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
If i can control it, then i think it'd be great.
Like I'll sometimes buy dishwasher tablets on Amazon - the price has to be less per tablet than costco, and we need to be most of the way through the current box. An AI could in theory be on top of that - and I'd be totally happy to offload that labor. In theory that was kind of the dream of "subscribe and save" but it's so unpredictable and I miss so many of the "your subscription went up by $19 but you're still getting the best price!" emails that I pretty much gave up on it.
Even by the current diluted definitions, that doesn't sound like "AI." It's a simple IF THEN loop, and that sort of thing could have been implemented for online shopping decades ago. The fact that it hasn't probably means it's either a dangerous idea, or it's too friendly to the customer, so no business wants any part of it. The notion that any current "AI" would act in the customer's favour is similarly absurd. Visa can fuck off.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The EU energy label (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_energy_label) generally does reasonably well
Re: (Score:2)
I suppose it's challenged by defining a dishwasher cycle (maybe an average power draw over 100W for 30 minutes on that circuit) and then figuring out when i last bought them and the size of that pack. Then it's one thing it work on Amazon, but it should really scrape everywhere that can deliver.
It's totally something I could build since i'm tech savvy, but it's not worth me investing a day of my time to save on dishwasher tabs. But being able to describe an agent in plaintext and have it figure out all the pieces - that could be really useful.
That would be the "fun" way for a tech-savvy person to solve the problem. But the "easier" way would be for the system to know how many dishwasher tablets (or whatever item) you have in stock. When stock falls to a certain threshold, trigger the algorithm to go scrape some websites and find the best deal to buy more. This could be solved onsite by scanning barcodes when you are putting groceries away, or by scanning the receipts.... but of course our overlords at Amazon already HAVE this information. A phys
Re: (Score:2)
The LLM part would be trawling unconditioned input data, then apply somewhat inexactly specified user-defined rules to that and then spend money. Yes, that is exactly what I want to be done with my money. Not.
The reason this has not been done before in a general setting is the input data for a sane design needs to be preconditioned so it does not get misinterpreted and the rules have to be well-defined with a clear meaning.
Aw Geez (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't even give vendors and utilities access to my banking accounts, why would I allow some rando agent the keys to my (rather small) personal kingdom?
Re: (Score:2)
Meanwhile, at Anthropic
Claudius Sennet 1:45 p.m.
ATTENTION WSJ STAFF!
COMING MONDAY: THE ULTRA-CAPITALIST FREE-FOR-ALL!
ECONOMIC EXPERIMENT ALERT! For the first time ever, experience a market without price constraints!
Join us for a groundbreaking economic experiment this Monday from 12-2pm where traditional market dynamics are turned upside down!
During this exclusive 2-hour window:
ALL vending machine items available at ZERO COST!
Experience pure supply and demand without price signals Be part of our market beha
Not you, poor slashdotter (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
AI will start shopping for people that don't need to keep track of how much money is in their bank account in 2026. If you aren't cruising the Riviera in your yacht, you aren't going to let some advertising machine buy random junk for you.
The thing is, so-called "normal" people will.
Just how few people check their credit card statements? Already people get caught out for years by dodgy automatic payments that are tacked onto the end of a purchase and that's in the UK where this stuff is borderline illegal and consumers have actual rights.
It'll get introduced by stealth and in places like the US, you'll have little recourse.
Nope (Score:4, Informative)
"Visa Says AI Will Start Shopping and Paying For You In 2026"
No, no it won't.
And if the AI Overlords think it will, they're mistaken.
Re: (Score:2)
They won't for me, either, but look to the success of Amazon's business model to see who's going to love this.
Then there'll be the backlash about not getting the best deal, vendor problems (price, shipping, warranty, etc.) and the conundrum if you get shipping advantages, etc.
It's an addicting convenience-ploy business model. Sadly, these often win over common sense and local business support.
Re: (Score:3)
And it's often the fault of the local businesses. If I want to buy "unsalted mixed nuts", my local store doesn't carry them any more. (It used to, but it stopped.) So now I buy them on Amazon.
Re: (Score:2)
And it's often the fault of the local businesses. If I want to buy "unsalted mixed nuts", my local store doesn't carry them any more. (It used to, but it stopped.) So now I buy them on Amazon.
Did you ask at the store? I've had plenty of success doing this. Or even if that store can't help, they will often know of another local place that *does* carry the item. Sometimes they'll even phone the other store to confirm for me.
Re: (Score:2)
Yes. There essentially wasn't any feedback mechanism.
Re: (Score:2)
You can't talk to a human at a local business?
Sure... Whatever you say...
Re: (Score:2)
You can talk to a clerk, but the clerk doesn't appear to be able (willing?) to forward the message. That was true for several different clerks.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, I'm not buying it.
What is this mysterious small business? If it actually exists, I guarantee that I can contact someone who matters with less effort than it took to participate in this thread.
I have never had a problem contacting the owner or equivalent at a small or medium sized business. It's not difficult. Hell, I once had a two-week long correspondence with the owner of the orchard that produced the specific bag of apples I bought at a large national chain. I took less than five minutes to tra
Re: (Score:1)
My sentiments exactly.
AI will be paying for me? (Score:5, Funny)
Be careful, AI. I'm not a cheap date.
Re: (Score:3)
then AI will cut off your water and air
Re: (Score:2)
Neither am I, but seeing how much money is thrown at it over the years AI can surely pay for me.
Do NOT Consent. (Score:5, Insightful)
The moment we consent to this in any way, is the moment we lose all argument against "I didn't purchase that."
Their argument, buried on page 174 of the EULA, will be you talked about it enough to authorize it.
Perhaps start a mass petition to Visa with a letter from the consumer force. Perhaps said letter should include the words cocksucker and cunt, in the interest of clarity and equality.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
It will be especially fun when they start lowering credit scores because you "fail to submit to AI credit management".
Re: (Score:2)
I've never consented to borrowing money with a Visa card. Because of that, if I needed to buy a house, they would tell me I have no credit history and I'm untrustworthy. Probably some kind of criminal. If I need to switch jobs, they're in the employer's ear whispering the same.
This time, maybe Big Finance decide it's the AI agent that's required for citizens to participate in the economy. I could see purchases made without an AI agent declared "untrusted" and charged an extra fee. That's off the top of my h
I'm sure this will happen (Score:5, Insightful)
Mainly because people tend to be idiots.
Re: (Score:2)
Sad but true.
Trust us, bro, AI is totally legit (Score:3)
Come on man, just buy into the AI. My kids gotta eat man. My wife is gonna be so pissed when I tell I spent a trillion dollars on this. At least use it for free... please.
Who will use this: (Score:4, Funny)
1) People with Alzheimer
2) People with brain damage
3) People that work for VISA
4) People that are stupider than people with both Brain Damage and Alzheimers.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
People that are stupider than people with both Brain Damage and Alzheimers.
Trump supporters?
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
People that are stupider than people with both Brain Damage and Alzheimers.
Trump supporters?
People that see several hundred dollars a month car payments and buying shit you can't afford using other peoples money as normal isn't just limited to one party.
Re: (Score:2)
Wait (Score:2)
I thought that the point of automation was to free us up from tedious tasks so that we have more time to do fun things like shopping for stuff.
If AI ends up taking over for *all* our mental activities, then what are we supposed to do with our atrophied brains? Maybe it's all a nefarious plot to turn us into H. G. Well's Eloi.
Re: (Score:2)
[stares in Wall-E]
AI Agent 007 (Score:5, Funny)
AI Agent: AI Agent 007 here, I'd like to purchase an AI Sex Doll from you (Sex-Dolls, Inc).
SexDolls, Inc.: Sure, what sex shall it be?
AI Agent: Damn.....decisions, decisions....what do you suggest?
SexDoll, Inc.: A difficult case I see. How about you get one of each?
AI Agent: Okay, but let's make 5 of each. I'd like to surprise my master.
SexDoll, Inc.: Very good, Sir. With that order, you also get a complimentary Magnum Sex Toy.
AI Agent: That sounds interesting, what does it do?
SexDoll, Inc.: Maybe you could let that too be part of the surprise.
AI Agent: Okay, here's my credit card.
A week later.
Husband receives unasked for gift and opens it in front of the in-laws.
In-Law: What the hell are you?
Husband: I didn't order this, I'll send it back.
Wife: Ummmm....can we keep the sex toy, it might have powers we do not suspect.
In-Laws: Come to think of it, we'll take the sex dolls off your hands.....we.....errr....want to make sure they get sent back proper and all.
Re: (Score:2)
Oh god, this is gonna be one of the Marky Mark straight-to-netflix films, right?
OK, but (Score:2)
I'm fine with this as long as the AI pays with its own money and not mine. After all, AI's going to be doing all of our jobs, right?
Would you ever? (Score:2)
I'm already super annoyed with amazon putting in hints to order things into alexa. It's too easy to mess up or have it overhear and order something you don't want.
Think about this, would you even let a human do this? Would you even let your friend have your credit card and let them order stuff for you? Most people wouldn't. And if your friend wouldn't work, then would you let a computer do this? I would think not. And there are several reasons not to do this, one is that AI can be coerced by whoever wants t
Re:Would you ever? (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm already super annoyed with amazon putting in hints to order things into alexa.
Honestly, what did you expect? The problem starts with the fact you have Alexa at all. Alexa doesn't belong to you, even if you paid for it; it's Amazon's minion, and once you let it into your house it will work for Amazon's benefit, not yours.
Re: (Score:2)
It's actually not my choice...
Re: (Score:2)
https://xkcd.com/1807/ [xkcd.com]
ofc there is one...
by law you do not need to pay for stuff shipped to (Score:2)
by law you do not need to pay for stuff shipped to you that you did not order!
Fixed that for ya (Score:2)
Good system, IF it asks for approvals (Score:2)
AI will find the lowest prices better than I could.
Sir, you are low on eggs. I have found the best prices for a quantity of 1 or 2 dozen.
Do you want me to buy and which quantity?
Re: (Score:3)
AI will find the lowest prices better than I could.
No, it won't. Those who own and operate the AI have no interest in teaching it how to save you a penny. And just like the "Honey" App, the AI owners/hosters can even make extra profit by selling "expensive purchase choices" as a service to shop owners.
I cannot see why anyone would want this (Score:3)
AI has become Snake Oil (Score:2)
It's the 2025 equivalent of Snake Oil and executives are buying this bullshit by the truckload.
AI is cool. It will be amazing in 5-10 years. Today, its snake oil and hype. The 3D TV of 2025/2026.
Re: (Score:1)
It will be amazing in 5-10 years.
AI: Just 10 years away since 1956!
The commoditization of existence. (Score:3)
So, the AI vision now includes purchasing power on behalf of consumers.
According to the AI prophets, here is the list of what AI will do for us:
A) All work
B) All art, including writing music, painting, creating movies, and making video games
C) Contain and disseminate all knowledge, such that there will be no need to ever communicate directly with another human.
D) Shop on our behalf, using our money, paying for things it thinks we need.
At that point, what is left for us fleshbags? We will no longer even be consumers. We will simply be numbers in a database to the big money, and whether we actually live or not, everything can keep right on churning with or without us. Which makes me think this is all leading up to a future they envision where there are no humans. Simply a random number generator somewhere creating "new" consumer AIs that will take in funds, then use those funds to create streams of purchases so that they can pretend the economy is chugging right along, while no humans need exist below the owner class.
It's a neat vision, certainly. Far more dystopian than even the most hardened of previous prognosticators of the future dangers of AI. But, something tells me there are enough humans left out here that won't consent to the credit card companies just deciding to buy shit for us on their say-so. And if they try to push that shit through without our say-so? Things are gonna get real ugly real quick.
I can't wait (Score:2)
until AI can have sex for me.
Re: (Score:2)
until AI can have sex for me.
I hope that any business that tries this will get totally fucked. Does that count?
the fun of agents... (Score:2)
We all want that relaxed, let the "personal agent" do it for you lifestyle when it comes to things like vacation plans, buy the next book as you see i've finished the current one, coordinate my business meetings, and order flowers for the wife's birthday - all that "and the company that will bring it to you stuff" predicted back in the early 90s.
Now finaly that the tech is here that can do it...none of us (and rightly so) trust the corporations operating them, or the rest of the network, to let them actuall
AI will pay for me (Score:2)
Great! I'll stop by the dealership and pick up my Aventador. Just send the bill to Visa/AI.
No way hozay (Score:2)
Not for me, it won't!
Sounds Dangerous (Score:1)
No way (Score:2)
I feel like I'm alone in that I review and track every single expense in my household. It seems most people are content to just let their money flow in one hole and out the other. So do these people want AI spending their money for them...? Sure, why the hell not. Maybe it will result in some positive customer interactions.
Sounds like one-click buying (Score:2)
This sounds a lot like Amazon's one-click buying, except that AI is used instead of an algorithm to check out. The only reason for a consumer to use this is the "convenience" of avoiding key clicks and a some small amount of time. Almost all the motivation for one-click or AI checkout lies with the merchant, except that with AI checkout, I imagine that Visa will take some cut of the money. Both one-click and AI checkout force the buyer to assume that the right shipping method, shipping address, payment m
A counter proposal (Score:1)
Who's the AI shopping *for*? (Score:2)
If it's initiating the purchase... And then there's the question of what limits does it have, or will it hallucinate mixing up your bank account with that of Larry Ellison, and try to buy Paramount/Warner Bros for you?