Visa Partners with AI Developers to Enable Shopping by AI Agents

Visa is betting on artificial intelligence “agents” to revolutionize shopping by integrating them with its payment network, announced Wednesday. Unlike basic chatbots, these AI assistants, developed by partners like Anthropic, Microsoft, OpenAI, Perplexity, and Mistral, aim to handle tasks like buying sweaters, groceries, or plane tickets based on user budgets and preferences. Visa’s initiative, also involving IBM, Stripe, and Samsung, begins with pilot projects, with broader rollout planned for 2026.
Jack Forestell, Visa’s chief product and strategy officer, called the move “transformational,” comparing it to the rise of e-commerce. The San Francisco-based company has spent six months addressing technical hurdles to make AI-driven purchases seamless for consumers. The vision is to offload mundane shopping tasks, enhancing convenience in a digital economy. However, current AI agents have underperformed, struggling with complex tasks, which Visa aims to overcome through its robust payment infrastructure.
The initiative comes as tech firms face scrutiny over AI ethics, with the Trump administration targeting “woke AI” efforts. Visa’s focus on practical applications sidesteps these debates, prioritizing consumer utility. If successful, the program could redefine retail, but it hinges on consumer trust and AI reliability. As pilot projects launch, Visa’s collaboration with leading AI and tech firms positions it to lead in integrating AI with financial services, potentially setting a new standard for automated commerce.