The definitive guide to how AI agents are transforming commercial transactions. Autonomous agents now discover products, compare prices, negotiate deals, and complete purchases on your behalf — ushering in a new era of effortless commerce.
Agentic commerce refers to the practice of autonomous AI agents conducting commercial transactions on behalf of users. Rather than manually visiting websites, searching for products, comparing prices, and clicking "buy," users set preferences and let AI agents handle the entire purchasing process independently.
These agents integrate with payment processors, e-commerce platforms, and service providers through standardized APIs. They understand natural language instructions, learn user preferences, evaluate options based on criteria like price and quality, and execute transactions securely and efficiently.
Agentic commerce is not a distant future concept — it's already emerging. Companies like PayPal, Stripe, Shopify, OpenAI, and Google are actively building the infrastructure and protocols that make autonomous commerce possible at scale.
Users communicate their needs to an AI agent using natural language. Instead of "I need running shoes under $150," they can say, "Find me comfortable running shoes, check reviews, compare prices, and buy the best deal."
The AI agent searches across multiple retailers and platforms, evaluates options based on user criteria (price, quality, brand, shipping, reviews), and narrows down selections to the best matches.
Using learned user preferences and decision-making logic, the agent may negotiate prices, apply discounts, or suggest alternatives. It prioritizes outcomes that match the user's explicit and implicit preferences.
Once a purchase is approved, the agent securely processes the payment through integrated payment processors, completes checkout, and confirms the order. All transactions are encrypted and comply with data protection standards.
The agent tracks orders, manages returns, handles customer service inquiries, and updates the user on delivery status. It may even proactively offer refunds if prices drop after purchase.
The Agentic Commerce Protocol is a standardized framework that enables interoperability between AI agents and commerce platforms. It defines how agents authenticate, negotiate with merchants, process payments, and protect user data.
Key aspects of ACP include:
Chargebee
Chargebee, a global leader in subscription billing, has announced its integration into the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) ecosystem. This move positions Chargebee to deliver AI-enhanced subscription billing solutions for autonomous agents worldwide, marking a significant step in the evolution of automated commerce.
Brex
Fintech innovator Brex has been certified 'ACP Ready' within the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) ecosystem, affirming its commitment to advanced AI-powered financial operations for businesses. Operating in the US, Brex is poised to deliver intelligent solutions that streamline and optimize corporate spending, travel, and banking.
Bolt
Bolt, a leading checkout technology provider, has announced its participation in the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) ecosystem. The company will provide its one-click checkout solution to facilitate seamless transactions within the burgeoning AI-driven commerce landscape across the US.
Block (Square/Afterpay)
Payments giant Block, encompassing Square and Afterpay, has announced its integration into the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) ecosystem. This strategic move positions Block to equip its global seller base with advanced AI-powered commerce tools, marking a significant step towards the future of autonomous online transactions.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce, a leading global e-commerce platform, has officially joined the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) ecosystem, achieving 'ACP Ready' certification. This strategic move positions BigCommerce to integrate advanced AI capabilities, promising a more intelligent and efficient online retail experience for its global merchant base.
Anthropic (Claude)
Anthropic has announced that its Claude AI models (Haiku 4.5, Sonnet 4.5, and Opus 4.5) are now 'ACP Ready,' integrating with the Agentic Commerce Protocol. This strategic move positions Claude to power sophisticated agentic tasks globally, enhancing automated commerce and digital interactions.
Agentic commerce is the emerging trend where AI agents conduct commercial transactions on behalf of users. Instead of manually browsing and purchasing, AI assistants autonomously discover products, evaluate options, negotiate prices, and complete purchases based on user preferences and instructions.
AI agents use natural language processing, machine learning, and decision-making algorithms to understand user needs, search across commerce platforms, evaluate products and services, and execute transactions securely. They integrate with APIs from payment processors, retailers, and service providers to complete seamless transactions.
The Agentic Commerce Protocol is a standardized framework designed to ensure interoperability and security across agentic commerce platforms. It enables AI agents from different companies to seamlessly integrate with payment providers, retailers, and other commerce infrastructure while maintaining data privacy and transaction integrity.
Major players include payment processors (PayPal, Stripe, Visa, Mastercard), e-commerce platforms (Shopify, BigCommerce), AI companies (OpenAI, Google, Anthropic), and infrastructure providers (Cloudflare, Amazon). Each plays a critical role in building the agentic commerce ecosystem.
Security in agentic commerce depends on strong encryption, secure APIs, compliance with data protection regulations, and robust authentication. The Agentic Commerce Protocol includes security standards that participating companies must meet, and transactions are protected by the same security measures as traditional e-commerce.