Mastercard’s Sherri Haymond on Letting AI Shop While Consumers Stay in Charge

Mastercard is preparing for a shift toward 'agentic AI,' where digital assistants don't just find products but actually complete purchases for consumers. For retailers and operators, this means the point of sale is moving away from your website's checkout button and into the hands of AI agents. These agents will be responsible for navigating merchant sites, applying loyalty points, and selecting the best payment method. The goal is to create a 'unified checkout' experience where the AI handles the friction of logging in and entering card details. For your business, this shift highlights the importance of having your financing options integrated into these broader digital ecosystems. If an AI agent is shopping for a customer, it needs to be able to see and select your Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) or installment plans as easily as a standard credit card. Mastercard is focusing on ensuring that while the AI does the heavy lifting, the human consumer remains the 'pilot' who authorizes the final spend. Retailers who optimize their data for these AI agents—making sure prices, inventory, and financing terms are easily readable by machines—will have a significant advantage as this technology matures.

Source: PYMNTS

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