Mastercard Publishes Report on the Future of AI Agents in Commerce and Payments

Mastercard released a report titled 'A Brief History of the Future of Shopping and Payments' on September 8, 2026. The report explores the shift toward AI agents that search, compare, and execute transactions on behalf of users. It analyzes how agent-based commerce will transform retail, customer relationships, and the necessary evolution of trust, identity, and payment infrastructure. Experts cited in the report predict that by 2030, trust will be a machine-readable attribute and agent networks may become significant customers.