1 in 10 Consumers Will Use AI Agents to Shop by 2030, Mastercard Predicts

In Focus 

• AI agent shopping could change how shoppers discover, evaluate, and buy products 

• Shoppers will likely delegate shopping for items like groceries to AI agents by 2030

• Young shoppers, ages 13 -19,  have already started embracing agentic commerce 

1 in 10 online buyers will regularly rely on AI shopping agents to make purchases by 2030, a new report has shown. From negotiating prices, to tracking products after purchase via wearables, AI agents will likely make shopping more automated and interconnected. 

“AI increasingly helps people decide what to buy; tomorrow it will help do the purchasing for them too,” Mastercard’s Executive VP for Core Payments in Europe, Brice van de Walle noted. 

What are the Main Autonomous AI Shopping Predictions?

AI agents could fundamentally change how consumers discover, evaluate, and buy products by the end of the decade. Here are three predictions showing how agentic commerce will evolve by 2030: 

1. AI Agents Will Handle Everyday Purchases 

World’s leading futurists expect AI agents to be making purchases by 2030. Shoppers will likely delegate routine shopping for items such as groceries, medicines, and subscriptions to AI agents. 

“By 2030, buying and shopping will no longer mean the same thing. AI agents will handle routine buying, leaving shopping as something we choose to do for discovery, inspiration and pleasure.” Lead futurist Magnus Lindkvist said.  

This prediction aligns with the findings of a recent Mastercard research, which showed that young shoppers (ages 13-18) already use AI to make shopping decisions twice as much as their parents. 

1. AI Agents Will Become Customers 

Another notable prediction is the emergence of a new type of customer for retailers. Alongside people, retailers will also serve AI agents that can read data, scan customer reviews, and verify claims to make purchase decisions and complete transactions. 

This shift will require retailers to adapt customer relationships, loyalty programs, and digital experiences for AI agents. One way to achieve this is by making claims, policies, and product information easier for AI systems to interpret and process. For instance, retailers could support sustainability claims with verifiable certificates that AI agents can easily find, read, and validate. 

1. Trust Will Be the New Advantage 

As agentic commerce evolves, trust will be a major drive of competitive advantage. Users will have to trust technology enough to delegate online shopping tasks to agents. As AI shopping gains traction, retailers and financial institutions will have to build customer trust by clarifying rules regarding consent, identity, authorization, and liability. 

What AI Agent Shopping Means for Retailers 

Based on the Mastercard report, AI agents could force retailers to rethink how they reach and serve customers. While the shift to agentic commerce is expected to create new opportunities, it will amplify concerns around trust, security, and accountability. 

To support autonomous purchasing, retailers will need to optimize for AI-driven recommendations, build stronger trust signals, and adapt loyalty strategies. The report, which is titled “A Short History of the Future of Shopping and Payments” is based on research by Mastercard and perspectives of world-leading futurists from Europe, Asia, and the U.S