Visa Tests AI Agents That Can Make Payments on Behalf of Users
Visa Tests AI Agents That Can Make Payments on Behalf of Users
Global payments company Visa is exploring a future where artificial intelligence can initiate purchases without direct human action. Through its new “Agentic Ready” program in Europe, the company is testing how payment systems can support transactions started by AI software agents.
The initiative is being developed in collaboration with major banks including Commerzbank and DZ Bank. The goal is to prepare financial infrastructure for a scenario where AI systems can search for products, compare prices, and complete purchases on behalf of users.
Currently, payment systems rely on human authorization—such as a person entering a card number or confirming a purchase. With AI-driven transactions, banks must create new methods to verify that a software agent is legitimately acting for a user and operating within approved rules.
In Visa’s model, AI agents could handle routine purchases automatically. For example, a system might monitor supply levels for a business and place an order when inventory runs low and prices meet preset conditions.
However, the shift also raises concerns about control and compliance. Financial institutions involved in the trials are examining how AI-initiated transactions can meet strict regulatory requirements related to fraud detection, auditing, and customer consent.
Reports suggest that financial companies are already facing increasing risks linked to artificial intelligence, including costly operational mistakes. As a result, Visa’s current work focuses on building secure infrastructure rather than launching consumer tools.
If successful, AI agents could streamline purchasing processes for businesses and organizations by automating routine procurement tasks. Still, banks and regulators will need to maintain oversight to ensure transactions remain secure and transparent.
Visa says the project is still in the testing stage, but it signals how payment systems may evolve as AI technology begins to play a more active role in financial decision-making.
