The rise of AI in commerce presents significant changes to how online transactions are conducted. Imagine your AI seamlessly purchasing the cheapest flight to Miami without human interaction, just by meeting pre-set conditions. This evolution—termed agentic commerce—offers convenience, saves time, and may uncover better deals. However, legal frameworks around online payments are outdated, created under the assumption that a human is always involved in transactions. New challenges arise around authentication, authorization, consent, and fraud prevention as AI agents begin executing purchases autonomously. Key issues include verifying the agent’s legitimacy, determining purchase permissions, and addressing concerns about compromised AI making unauthorized transactions. Complicated disputes over unintended purchases and subscription traps further complicate the landscape. As regulatory bodies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission start to scrutinize these developments, businesses must prepare for new compliance measures and challenges in customer support, ensuring transparency and safety in AI-driven transactions.
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