AI agents poised to reshape online shopping and payment habits by 2030

Drawing on Mastercard data and interviews with four leading futurists across the United States, Europe and Asia, the report outlines how AI agents could become central to everyday commerce by 2030. These agents would process vast data sets, verify product claims and execute purchases automatically, prompting retailers to adapt loyalty programs and make product information machine-readable. Early pilots, such as the first AI-mediated payment transaction in Hungary with OTP Bank and subsequent trials with Gránit Bank, MBH Bank and K&H Bank, demonstrate the technology’s feasibility.

The research also highlights a generational divide: over sixty percent of teenagers believe AI will dramatically alter how they shop, while most parents see limited impact for their own generation. Magnus Lindkvist emphasizes that the role of AI will move beyond assistance to making the final buying decision.