Visa’s Bold Step into AI-Powered Commerce
Visa is poised to revolutionize online retail by 2026, with a commitment to deliver secure, personalized AI-driven commerce to consumers.
The landscape of shopping is changing rapidly. Recent studies show that nearly 50% of U.S. consumers are now leveraging AI tools for various tasks such as price comparison and product discovery. With this shift in consumer behavior, Visa anticipates a future where millions will depend on AI agents to facilitate their purchases during the 2026 holiday season.
Introducing Visa Intelligent Commerce
To prepare for this new era of “agent shopping,” Visa has launched the Visa Intelligent Commerce platform. This comprehensive suite of APIs aims to enable secure transactions initiated by AI agents, paving the way for enhanced shopping experiences.
Expanding Partnerships in AI Development
Visa is actively collaborating with over 100 partners to create a robust business ecosystem for AI-powered commerce. Notably, more than 30 partners are engaged in developing a sandbox environment for testing purposes, and over 20 agents are currently working to integrate these systems. This collaborative effort has led to hundreds of successful real-world transactions, demonstrating the technology’s viability in production settings.
Regional Rollout and Pilot Programs
Implementation of Visa’s AI-enabled commerce solutions is advancing swiftly across regions. In the United States, companies like Skyfire and Ramp are currently operating end-to-end procurement solutions in closed beta. Additionally, pilot programs are anticipated to launch in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region by early 2026, with preparations also underway in Latin America.
Innovations in the Middle East
In the Middle East, Visa’s collaboration with Aldar is set to enhance the convenience of real estate transactions for UAE residents, allowing them to automate repetitive property costs easily. This innovative step signifies Visa’s commitment to transforming commerce across diverse markets.
The Future of AI Shopping
Rubail Birwadker, Senior Vice President at Visa, envisions the current holiday season as a pivotal transition point. He predicts that by 2026, AI agents will evolve from simple assistants to independent entities capable of autonomously completing transactions. This transformation signifies a new chapter in consumer shopping, fundamentally reshaping the retail landscape.