The Future of Shopping? How Intelligent Commerce Will Change Everything
Imagine this: you’re kicking back on the couch, glass of wine in hand, halfway paying attention to Netflix, and meanwhile… your credit card is out there buying stuff for you. No clicking “add to cart.” No late-night Amazon rabbit holes. Just your AI agent, handling it.
Yeah. That’s where we’re headed.
Visa recently announced Intelligent Commerce, a tool that lets AI agents make purchases for you. Mastercard’s got something similar with Agent Pay. PayPal’s playing in the same sandbox. Amazon, of course, rolled out Buy For Me.
Everyone wants a piece of the next big thing: letting artificial intelligence shop on your behalf so you don’t have to think about it.
And honestly? I don’t hate it. But I’ve got questions.
So… What Is Intelligent Commerce Exactly?
Let’s make this simple: intelligent commerce is AI-powered shopping. Think of it like a personal assistant that learns your tastes, your habits, and your shopping routines, then makes decisions without you having to weigh in every time.
It’s not just suggesting items, you’re letting it actually complete transactions!
Visa’s tool might prioritize brands you love, your go-to stores, your preferred shipping speed. Amazon’s Buy For Me might know you always pick organic, hate cilantro, and swap oat milk for dairy.
It’s like your brain’s best shopping instincts, automated.
Is it cool? Absolutely. Is it mildly terrifying? Also yes.
A Little History: How Did We Get Here?
Honestly, it didn’t happen overnight. Intelligent commerce is the next step in a long journey of letting tech handle transactions.
We went from: swiping credit cards manually, to online shopping carts in the ‘90s, to saved payment methods, to “one-click checkout”, to auto-refill subscriptions, to Alexa adding things to our lists
Now? We’re basically saying, “Forget the list—just do it for me.”
And it makes sense. Every step shaved off friction, made decisions easier, and built trust in automation. Intelligent commerce is the logical (if wild) next leap.
Visa vs. Mastercard vs. Amazon: Who’s Doing What?
It’s not just Visa playing in this space, here’s a quick breakdown of the major players:
Visa Intelligent Commerce – Focuses on AI agents working with merchants to complete purchases on your behalf. Integrates with existing cards, loyalty programs, and retailers.
Mastercard Agent Pay – Similar concept, pitched as a secure payment channel for AI-driven purchases. Think chatbots, smart devices, and voice assistants completing transactions inside apps.
Amazon Buy For Me – Leans into convenience. Alexa already orders basics on command; this takes it further. It might reorder paper towels before you realize you’re even low.
PayPal Agentic Commerce – Working on enabling “AI companions” to finalize purchases on behalf of users across partner sites.
Everyone’s playing a slightly different game, but the goal is the same: put AI between you and your checkout button.
Why I’m Intrigued (But Low-Key Nervous)
I love the idea of eliminating boring errands. If an AI can keep me stocked on toothpaste, detergent, and pet food? Sign me up.
But what happens when that same AI starts choosing my shampoo? My running shoes? My future kid’s school supplies (only a dog mom right now!)?
At what point does convenient become controlling? And how easily could brands “nudge” my AI agent toward their products with subtle incentives?
Suddenly, it’s not just my preferences driving purchases, it’s my AI’s interpretation of my preferences, filtered through unseen algorithms.
If this feels like part of a bigger shift, check out my post about Bill Gates’ prediction that we’re heading toward a 2-day work week. It’s wild to think we’re automating our way out of labor and decisions at the same time! Not entirely sure if it is a good thing or not yet.
Privacy, Bias, and (Yup) the Dreaded “Data”
If AI is deciding what I buy, it needs a whole lot of data. My past purchases. My wish lists. My return habits. Maybe even my Google searches.
That means privacy gets dicey fast. Who owns that data? How secure is it? And if my AI agent is making decisions, who’s accountable when it gets it wrong?
There’s also the sneaky issue of bias. If my AI always picks the “top recommended” item… who’s paying to be in that spot? Are small brands going to get buried while big corporations outbid them for algorithmic attention?
We’re not just outsourcing decisions…we’re outsourcing which options we even see.
What Would I Let It Buy (And What’s Off-Limits)?
Let’s get real: there’s a difference between letting AI buy you garbage bags and letting it pick your mattress.
Here’s my personal breakdown:
Fine with AI buying:
Trash bags
Dish soap
Printer paper
Dog food (only after knowing what brands hurt Riesling’s little tummy and which are safe!)
Never letting AI buy:
Jeans or clothes really
Sunglasses
A new blender
Any wine, ever!!!!
Some purchases are transactional. Some are emotional, experiential, or deeply subjective. Intelligent commerce works best when you don’t really care… but falls apart when nuance matters.
Where Do Devices Fit In?
If you want to experiment with intelligent commerce without fully handing over control, a smart home device is a good middle ground.
Something like the Amazon Echo Show 8 lets you use voice commands to approve or reject purchases, while still enjoying some AI-powered convenience.
I’ve used mine to reorder basics without lifting a finger, but I love that it asks me before checking out. It feels like training wheels for the full “buy for me” experience. I’m not sure I would ever do much more though. Also, I sort of hate the reminders “you might be running low on this that and the other thing.” If I am running low, I most likely know, which makes me feel like my robot is being a pushy salesman.
Will We All Opt In?
Maybe not right away. But just like auto-pay, one-click checkout, and subscription boxes crept into our lives, I bet intelligent commerce will too.
At first it’ll be “oh, I’ll let it handle toilet paper.” Then “sure, it can reorder my vitamins.” Then… who knows?
But here’s my big question: will it make us better consumers, or just less conscious ones?
Will I really know what I’m buying if I stop actively choosing? Or will I just be another passive participant in a commerce machine?
It’s one thing to delegate chores. It’s another to delegate decisions.
Intelligent commerce is coming…whether we’re ready or not.
For some of us, it’ll be a game-changer: fewer errands, less mental clutter, more time for meaningful things.
For others, it’s a little dystopian: handing over control of our wallets to invisible algorithms, trusting they’ll choose what’s best.
For me? I’m excited. I’m curious. But I’m keeping my wine list (and a few other things!) human, thank you very much.
Would you let AI do your shopping? Or are you staying hands-on as long as possible?
