HSBC UK trials AI shopping with Visa

HSBC UK and Visa are partnering to test 'agentic commerce' driven by artificial intelligence. For retailers, this represents a shift from traditional search-and-click shopping to a world where AI assistants find and purchase products for consumers. The trial focuses on creating secure frameworks that allow AI agents to use card credentials autonomously while keeping the human user in control. This technology bridges the gap between digital discovery and the final transaction. It aims to eliminate friction at checkout by allowing AI to handle the logistics of the buy. For businesses that offer consumer financing, this provides a new landscape for integrating credit offers directly into the AI’s decision-making process. If an AI agent knows a consumer prefers flexible payment terms, it can prioritize items from merchants that offer integrated BNPL or private label credit cards. While still in the pilot phase, this initiative signals a future where your 'customer' might be an algorithm rather than a person scrolling a webpage. Merchants will need to ensure their financing options are visible and digestible by these AI tools to remain competitive in an automated marketplace.

Source: Finextra — Lending

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