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Agentic AI Shopping Agents Poised for European Pilots in 2026

Payments firms say charges will be processed only after users approve each transaction.

Overview

  • AI vendors, major US tech companies, card networks, and travel and online portals are preparing pilot programs, according to dpa reporting.
  • Unzer executive Pascal Beij says the first pilots are expected to roll out next year.
  • These agents are intended to place orders and complete payments, taking on tasks such as planning and booking a full family vacation.
  • Visa’s Tobias Czekalla says users can store payment details with an agent in a wallet-like setup, with explicit customer confirmation required before any purchase proceeds.
  • Visa reports it has already run hundreds of such transactions in the US and expects deployments in Germany and across Europe over the next year.