Risks and Opportunities in Agentic Commerce: 73% of Shoppers Using AI in Shopping Journey

A global survey of over 5,000 consumers reveals that 73% use AI in their shopping journey, with 58% likely to use AI for gift shopping this year. Merchants face new agentic commerce risks, including uncertainty around liability for fraud and policy abuse. Fraudsters may exploit gaps in identity verification, account security, and payment flows. Consumers' top concerns include payment security, privacy, potential mistakes, and loss of control.

A global survey of over 5,000 consumers reveals that 73% use AI in their shopping journey, with 58% likely to use AI for gift shopping this year. As merchants embrace AI to enhance customer experiences, they face new challenges and risks, particularly in the realm of agentic commerce. This paradigm shift, where AI agents autonomously manage transactions, presents both opportunities and significant concerns, including liability for fraud and policy abuse.

Agentic commerce, enabled by platforms like Basis Theory, allows AI to handle transactions, personalize experiences, and drive autonomous purchasing. Basis Theory, a leading independent payments infrastructure company, recently raised $33 million in a Series B round, led by Costanoa, with participation from various venture capital firms, according to a PR Newswire release. This funding will accelerate Basis Theory's work in agentic commerce and expand its enterprise-grade payment vault for merchants worldwide.

However, the integration of AI in commerce also introduces new risks. Consumers' top concerns include payment security, privacy, potential mistakes, and loss of control. Fraudsters may exploit gaps in identity verification, account security, and payment flows. For instance, a recent $3 million XRP theft incident exposed the vulnerabilities in the crypto ecosystem, revealing a predatory recovery industry that preys on victims, according to a Yahoo Finance report. This incident underscores the need for robust security measures and clear user education.

To mitigate these risks, merchants must ensure their payment systems are secure, transparent, and compliant with relevant regulations. Basis Theory's platform, with its cloud-native, PCI-compliant vault, serves as a secure foundation for agentic commerce. The company's commitment to zero lock-in and developer-first API empowers merchants to design their payment infrastructure as needed.

In conclusion, while agentic commerce presents exciting opportunities for growth and innovation, merchants must be vigilant about the associated risks. By investing in robust security measures and clear user education, merchants can navigate the complexities of AI-driven retail and build trust with consumers.