AI Shopping: Trust Lags Behind Discovery

New research indicates a growing divide in Asia Pacific consumers' trust in AI for shopping. While 74% of consumers readily use AI tools for product discovery, a notable 26% express doubt about AI recommendations truly serving their best interests, signaling a demand for greater transparency and control. This caution is more pronounced among affluent consumers and in digitally mature markets like Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

Despite comfort with AI for price comparisons and feature analysis, confidence wanes when personal data is involved. Thirty-two percent of consumers are reluctant to share payment information with AI systems. Nearly half, 45%, would be more receptive to AI-driven commerce if stronger assurances regarding payment security were provided. Emerging markets like India and Vietnam show higher openness to AI purchases.

Visa is actively addressing these concerns by enabling businesses to connect consumers, AI agents, and merchants through secure frameworks like Visa Intelligent Commerce and the Trusted Agent Protocol. Solutions such as Tokenisation and Visa Payment Passkeys aim to deliver the seamless and secure experiences necessary for AI-powered commerce to accelerate and become a more natural part of everyday life.