Artificial Intelligence (AI) is spreading into all areas of daily life, and shopping is next in line.
Google recently unveiled its AI Shopping Mode, a new “agentic” online shopping experience that allows users to browse billions of items and automatically check out with Google Pay.
It’s a significant shift for the ecommerce industry, but with consumers increasingly open to AI experiences, it has the potential to transform the shopping experience as we know it.
Recent data from SumUp shows that one in four Londoners would be happy to let a bot make small payments on their behalf, indicating growing consumer trust in AI payments.
So what does this mean for online sellers? And how can they keep up with ever-changing consumer expectations around AI and tech?
What is “agentic” shopping?
AI isn’t entirely new to the world of online shopping (Amazon users have long been able to ask Alexa to add products to their shopping cart). But Google has recently announced a ton of new “agentic” features that have significantly amped up the trend.
Notably, with the new AI Shopping Mode, Google has added an AI Mode to its shopping search function. Powered by its latest Gemini 2.5 model, it helps users easily find the sort of product, ticket, or experience they are looking for, without having to use specific keywords.
Shoppers can also search for items with their phone camera, use voice commands, and try clothes on virtually. And crucially, when they’ve found what they’re looking for, they can ask the AI to check out directly with Google Pay.
How do shoppers feel about agentic AI?
Google’s AI Shopping Mode suggests we are very close to a reality in which AI can act as a personal shopping assistant, capable of making decisions and transactions autonomously.
Chris Jones at payment consultancy firm, PSE Consulting comments, “The shift from AI as a search assistant to AI as a full-service shopper marks a fundamental change in how consumers interact with digital commerce.
“With Google’s new plans for AI-driven checkout experiences, we’re moving closer to a world where shopping is no longer something we do, but something done for us.”
Jones is alluding to the concept of a fully-agentic checkout, where AI would autonomously complete purchases. Currently only available to US Google Pay users, agentic checkout will allow Google to make purchases on behalf of users.
One benefit of agentic checkout is that it can allow users to access discounts, as users can instruct Google to “buy for me” when desired items become available at a cheaper price. Google will then purchase these products using Google Pay.
But while AI using your credit card may feel rather dystopian to some, the report from SumUp suggests that more people are open to it than you may expect.
42% of people in London said they would trust AI to make small, automated payments on their behalf. Meanwhile, 16% say they’d trust it to make payments of any kind.
What are the security risks?
AI checkout solutions could be the next step in the evolution towards cashless transactions. In the past few years, card payments have reigned supreme over cash. SumUp reports that over 62% of Brits now prefer to pay with their cards.
That said, digital payments aren’t without their drawbacks. Over a third (35%) of people say they’re worried about security risks, such as hacking, fraud, and stolen card details. In addition, 30% of people find it concerning to be reliant on technology.
Lastly, 31% worry about the privacy of digital banking, specifically banks and tech companies tracking their data. In light of these concerns, 11% are hitting back against the shift to a cashless society and still prefer to rely on cash.
As agentic AI use grows in popularity, these risks could stymie adoption. With the rise of agentic AI, these concerns may hinder adoption. Consumers will likely demand strong security measures to prevent bad actors from placing orders through their accounts.
How should small sellers respond?
While the SumUp report shows that Brits are still divided when it comes to digital payments, Google’s AI shopping mode shows an undeniable shift towards more convenient ways of paying. And SMEs will benefit from keeping up with demand.
By embracing AI-powered POS systems and payment gateways, businesses can offer streamlined payment options that match evolving consumer expectations.
Beyond keeping up with the times, adopting new tech can have several benefits. It helps you speed up the checkout process, as well as offering personalised shopping experiences. All in all, a positive shopping experience can boost sales and customer retention.
Still, when dealing with anything involving customer payment data, caution is paramount. Sellers should take steps to understand the security requirements and potential risks of AI payment solutions before adding them to their own store.
