Visa Bridges AI Commerce Gap with Secure Agent-Driven Payment Workflows

Visa has unveiled a transformative initiative, Visa Intelligent Commerce, designed to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) across its operations, positioning the company at the forefront of AI-driven commerce. The platform, announced at Visa's Global Product Drop event in San Francisco, enables AI agents to securely facilitate transactions on behalf of users while maintaining trust and control. By opening its payment network to developers and partners, Visa aims to redefine how consumers interact with commerce, leveraging AI to enable personalized, secure, and seamless experiences. "We are delivering secure, AI-driven payments designed to work at scale, globally, with trust at the core," said CEO Ryan McInerney, emphasizing the shift toward agent-led commerce The future is here: Announcing a new era of commerce^[1].

The initiative is built on a partnership ecosystem spanning AI leaders such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, and Stripe, as well as fintechs, banks, and merchants. Visa's "Visa as a Service" stack combines global connectivity, tokenization, authentication, and personalization tools to create a unified infrastructure for AI commerce. For example, AI-ready cards with tokenized credentials allow users to grant agents specific purchasing authority, while APIs verify purchase intent and contextual data in real time. This framework ensures transactions are both secure and user-centric, with features like spend limits and real-time approval prompts Visa Unveils Intelligent Commerce Platform to Power AI Payments^[2].

Security and personalization are central to Visa's AI strategy. The company's tokenization technology replaces sensitive card data with secure tokens, reducing fraud risk and enabling AI agents to transact without exposing user information. Personalization is achieved through consent-based data sharing, where users can grant agents access to their spending preferences-such as preferred airlines or budget thresholds-to tailor recommendations. Jack Forestell, Visa's Chief Product Officer, highlighted that AI-driven insights, such as detecting spending patterns during events like Ramadan, enhance transaction relevance while maintaining privacy The future is here: Announcing a new era of commerce^[1].

Visa is also expanding financial inclusion through tools like Visa Pay and Visa Accept. Visa Pay allows mobile wallet users in markets such as Vietnam and the Philippines to spend globally, while Visa Accept turns NFC-enabled smartphones into point-of-sale terminals for micro-sellers. These tools align with Visa's broader goal of reaching 100% tokenization for digital transactions, a step toward reducing fraud and improving authorization rates. Additionally, the company is piloting biometric-based payment passkeys and enhancing data-sharing protocols to streamline user experiences Visa Unveils Intelligent Commerce Platform to Power AI Payments^[2].

The strategic importance of Visa Intelligent Commerce is underscored by its potential to address gaps in AI commerce. For instance, generative AI platforms often struggle with payment integration, leading to abandoned transactions. By embedding secure payment flows directly into AI workflows, Visa bridges this gap, enabling agents to book flights, reserve accommodations, or purchase goods autonomously. Sarah Friar, CFO of OpenAI, noted that Visa's infrastructure solves critical technical and trust challenges, enabling AI commerce to scale Visa Unveils Intelligent Commerce Platform to Power AI Payments^[2].

Visa's AI initiatives are already yielding measurable outcomes. The company processed $225 million in USDC settlements in 2025 and aims to exceed $1 billion within 12 months. Partners like BBVA are leveraging Visa's tokenized asset platform to issue stablecoins, signaling a shift toward programmable money. Meanwhile, Visa's fraud prevention systems, which blocked $40 billion in fraudulent transactions in 2024, are being integrated into AI-driven workflows to ensure ecosystem-wide security Visa Gives AI Agents ‘Intelligent Commerce’ Superpowers^[3].

Visa's approach reflects a dual focus on innovation and practicality, balancing the science of AI with the art of user experience. By prioritizing trust, security, and scalability, the company positions itself as a foundational infrastructure provider for the next era of commerce. As Oliver Jenkyn, Group President of Global Markets, stated, "We need to bring everyone with us-not just developers and fintechs, but people like my retired mother in rural Canada." This inclusive vision underscores Visa's commitment to democratizing AI commerce while addressing regulatory, technical, and consumer adoption challenges Visa Unveils Intelligent Commerce Platform to Power AI Payments^[2].