Consumer interest in using artificial intelligence to help make purchases is growing, but trust in the technology and readiness across the commerce ecosystem remain significant hurdles, according to new research released by digital payments company Checkout.com.
The report, Agentic Commerce 2026: The State of Consumer Demand and Merchant Readiness, found that 33 per cent of consumers expect at least 10 per cent of their purchases to be driven by AI within the next year, while 72 per cent of merchants in the United Kingdom and United States believe consumers will adopt AI-powered shopping faster than most businesses are prepared for.
The findings point to a widening gap between consumer expectations and the systems, standards and safeguards needed to support what the company describes as agentic commerce, in which AI agents can search, compare products and complete purchases on behalf of consumers with permission.
The research suggests businesses are preparing for broader use of AI in shopping, but questions around trust, control and accountability remain unresolved.
One in four consumers surveyed said they would never delegate purchases to AI, while 27 per cent said they do not trust any organization to operate an AI shopping agent on their behalf.
Consumers also indicated they would only permit AI agents to make purchases under strict conditions. Across the six markets surveyed, respondents said they would allow an AI shopping agent to spend an average of £177 per purchase without additional approval. That compares with an average merchant expectation of £200 across the U.K. and U.S.
The report found spending limits, instant revocation of permissions and easy cancellation were among the most important conditions consumers identified for building confidence in AI-assisted shopping. Merchants appeared to recognize those concerns, with 75 per cent saying the ability for customers to revoke permissions in real time would be critical to adoption.
Rory O’Neill, chief marketing officer at Checkout.com, said the technology is moving beyond the experimental stage, even as supporting infrastructure continues to develop.
“Agentic commerce is quickly moving from concept to reality. Consumers are beginning to experiment with AI agents for everyday purchases, and across the industry we’re seeing rapid collaboration around the protocols and standards that will support this next phase of ecommerce. But while adoption is ramping up, the infrastructure behind it is still developing. Consumers need confidence that AI agents will operate within clear controls around security, refunds, permissions and spend limits. Until those foundations are in place, trust will remain one of the biggest barriers to adoption.”
The report found convenience is the primary factor driving consumer interest in AI-powered shopping. Twenty-five per cent of respondents said saving time was their main reason for using an AI shopping agent, while 20 per cent said they would use the technology to avoid missing better deals.
Adoption appears most likely to begin with routine and lower-risk purchases. Consumers were most willing to delegate shopping for groceries, at 41 per cent, followed by household supplies at 31 per cent.
More complex purchasing decisions attracted less interest. Financial services ranked lowest among categories consumers were willing to delegate to AI, at 15 per cent. The finding contrasts with merchant expectations that AI-assisted shopping could gain traction first in more complicated purchasing decisions, including financial products.
The research also suggests AI could influence brand loyalty. Fifty-seven per cent of consumers said they would allow an AI shopping agent to switch brands if it identified a better-value alternative.
At the same time, merchants reported that AI agents currently account for only a small share of transactions. According to the survey, three per cent of transactions involve AI agents today, while 89 per cent of merchants said they are actively preparing for broader adoption of agentic commerce.
The study was conducted by Censuswide and surveyed 12,005 consumers aged 18 and older across the United Kingdom, United States, Brazil, China, France and the United Arab Emirates. It also surveyed 400 heads of payment working at consumer-facing merchants in the U.K. and U.S.
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