TL;DR
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New research reveals growing appetite for AI-powered shopping assistants, but consumers remain wary about handing over control of their money
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Nearly half of UK shoppers (48%) have used or would consider using an AI shopping agent
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Willingness to use shopping bots has increased by 55%2] in the past year
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AI-driven purchases could account for nearly £99bn of UK retail spending by 2031
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More than half (54%) remain concerned about the security of their payment details
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Nearly half of UK adults (48%) have already used, or would consider using, an AI agent to shop within the next 12 months, according to new research from Global Payments Inc. This marks a significant increase from just 31% a year ago, signaling that shopping bots are rapidly gaining acceptance – with an impact on everything they buy online, including how they interact with telemedia services.
The findings suggest the traditional online buying journey could be on the verge of a major shake-up. More than two-thirds (69%) say they would consider using an AI agent if it could consistently find the best prices, reducing the need to spend hours searching, scrolling and comparing products.
If adoption takes off, AI agents could account for a projected £99bn of UK retail spending annually by 2031. Within five years, Brits predict that AI bots will make around 16% of their purchases – more than double what they predicted last year (7%).
“For years, online shopping has meant opening dozens of tabs in search of the best deal. What’s striking is how quickly consumers are becoming comfortable with letting AI do that work for them,” says Harsh Mehta, head of partnerships – AI and Agentic Commerce at Global Payments. “The scale of spending that consumers expect AI to influence shows why businesses need to prepare for these new shopping journeys now.”
Merchants face a trust challenge
Despite growing enthusiasm, consumers draw the line when AI moves from recommending products to spending money. Shoppers are keen to benefit from automated searching and price comparison while retaining control over what is purchased and how much is spent.
Among consumers open to AI-powered purchasing:
- 90% would let an AI agent spend up to £100 on groceries and everyday essentials
- 84% would permit spending up to £100 on clothing and footwear
- 74% would allow spending up to £100 on luxury clothing and footwear
- 60% would cap spending on electronics and gadgets at £100
The findings reveal a trust gap. While consumers see clear value in AI-powered shopping, most are not yet comfortable giving bots significant access to their money. At least 95% would set a spending limit of £500 or less.
Security remains the biggest barrier to adoption. More than half (54%) are concerned about the safety of their payment details, while nearly half (48%) worry about how their personal data could be used.
Consumers also want reassurance that they remain in control. More than a third (34%) want to confirm every purchase before a payment is made, 33% want access to human support when something goes wrong and 32% want evidence that the AI cannot be hacked or manipulated.
Mehta adds: “Consumers are increasingly comfortable letting AI find the right product and the best price, but handing over the final purchasing decision is a much bigger leap. The opportunity is immense, but trust will determine how quickly AI shopping agents become standard practice. That’s why we are focused on helping merchants deliver AI-powered shopping experiences that are secure, transparent and keep consumers in control.”
As AI-assisted shopping grows, retailers are preparing for a future in which consumers increasingly discover, compare and buy products through AI-powered assistants. Further findings from Global Payments’ international consumer research, including sector-specific insights covering retail, travel, hospitality and entertainment, are available in the full report: globalpayments.com/agentic-commerce
