Tech companies have been promising us AI assistants that can actually do things, and now Visa wants to make that dream a digital reality.

The payment giant is teaming up with some of the biggest names in artificial intelligence – including Anthropic, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Perplexity – to create AI “agents” that can literally shop for you. Imagine an algorithm that knows exactly what sweater you want, finds it online, and purchases it without you lifting a finger.

How Does This Even Work?

Here’s the deal: You set a budget and some preferences, and these AI agents will become your personal shopping concierge. Jack Forestell from Visa is so hyped about this, he’s comparing it to the advent of e-commerce itself. Bold claim? Absolutely.

The Privacy and Spending Concerns

Before you start panicking about AI going on a shopping spree with your credit card, Visa assures us that humans are still very much in control. Initially, these AI agents will ask for your approval on purchases, gradually gaining more autonomy as trust builds.

The Future of Shopping

While some shopping experiences – like hunting for luxury goods – will remain a human pleasure, mundane tasks like grocery shopping or booking travel could become fully automated. And with American credit card debt hitting a whopping $1.21 trillion, maybe having a budget-conscious AI assistant isn’t such a bad idea.

The future of shopping just got a whole lot more interesting – and potentially a lot less painful.