Mastercard has introduced its Agent Pay service in Malaysia and Singapore, enabling AI agents to handle routine purchases and execute transactions when prices hit user-defined thresholds. The company plans to extend this capability across additional Asian markets in the coming months.

Agentic payments allow consumers to delegate transactions to AI agents, automating tasks such as reordering subscription items or snagging deals when prices fall. This shift from mere convenience to full delegation could streamline online shopping for users who embrace the technology.

To address potential fraud and trust issues, Mastercard’s Agent Pay incorporates strong user authentication, continuous transaction monitoring, configurable spending limits and granular user controls. These measures aim to ensure transparency and security for consumers wary of AI-initiated spending.

Consumer discomfort with AI handling personal funds and unresolved regulatory frameworks around consent, liability and dispute resolution are likely to slow adoption. Meanwhile, merchants may delay integration until clear evidence of consumer demand and regulatory clarity emerge.