AI-powered shopping just got a major boost from two of the world’s largest payment networks. On Wednesday, Visa introduced a new initiative dubbed “Intelligent Commerce,” designed to empower artificial intelligence agents to browse and purchase items on behalf of consumers, all within parameters the user sets.
According to Jack Forestell, Visa’s chief product and strategy officer, the aim is to deliver personalized, streamlined shopping experiences where “each consumer sets the limits, and Visa helps manage the rest.” These intelligent agents are expected to act autonomously, sourcing products that match the shopper’s preferences while maintaining strong security and convenience standards.
Visa Partners With Leading Tech Firms to Drive the Future of Commerce
Visa’s AI initiative is being developed in collaboration with a roster of industry leaders, including Anthropic, IBM, Microsoft, Mistral AI, OpenAI, Perplexity, Samsung, and Stripe. The goal? To create secure, intuitive shopping systems tailored to user behavior and preferences, ushering in a more proactive era of online transactions.
These partnerships highlight Visa’s strategy to remain at the forefront of innovation, blending its payment infrastructure with AI capabilities from both emerging startups and global tech powerhouses.
Mastercard Launches Agent Pay for Seamless AI-Powered Shopping
Just a day earlier, Mastercard rolled out its own AI-driven solution, Agent Pay, aimed at enhancing the shopping process through generative AI. By embedding payments into personalized recommendations delivered through conversational platforms, the system enables users to not only receive tailored suggestions but also complete transactions directly through the chat interface.
In a practical example shared by the company, someone organizing a birthday celebration can simply tell the AI assistant her preferences. The agent then curates outfit and accessory options from nearby boutiques and e-commerce platforms — even considering weather and ambiance. After feedback, the system can make the final purchase and suggest the optimal payment method, such as Mastercard’s One Credential.
Strategic Alliances to Expand Agentic Commerce
To support this move into agentic commerce, Mastercard is partnering with Microsoft on scaling new applications. Additional collaborations with IBM, Braintree, and Checkout.com are focused on deepening capabilities and ensuring seamless integration into existing payment ecosystems.
Growing Trend Among Tech and Fintech Leaders
Visa and Mastercard’s announcements come amid a broader shift toward AI-powered shopping. PayPal also revealed its agent-based commerce offering earlier this week, while Amazon is currently piloting a new AI feature called “Buy for Me.” Meanwhile, OpenAI, Google, and Perplexity have each showcased AI agents that can browse websites, evaluate products, and assist users throughout the online shopping journey.
OpenAI recently upgraded its ChatGPT web search tool, making it easier for users to conduct product searches and compare items — signaling a growing competition among major players in redefining digital commerce through artificial intelligence.
As the world’s top financial networks race to redefine e-commerce with AI, Visa and Mastercard’s entry into AI-powered shopping underscores a seismic shift in how consumers will discover, select, and pay for goods in the near future — seamlessly and intelligently.
Get the Latest AI News on AI Content Minds Blog