Visa says AI could start making purchases for you. Not everyone wants that, but here’s how close we are

What if you didn’t actually decide to buy that last thing in your cart?A report from Visa released on Thursday suggests that, in some cases, you might not have. According to a survey from the financial services company, artificial intelligence is no longer just helping people shop. In many cases, AI is starting to shape what people buy, and in some cases, even act on their behalf. The research is based on surveys of both U.S. consumers and business decision-makers. It shows that AI systems are moving from assistants to participants in commerce. That influence is already showing up in everyday behavior. Nearly 40% of Americans say they have made a purchase they would not have otherwise considered because of an AI tool. The impact tends to happen early in the shopping process, where AI surfaces options, compares products, and narrows choices before a person checks out. AI becomes a new kind of customer For Visa, this shift represents a new type of customer. “AI is not just technolo