Google has unveiled a new open protocol designed for purchases made by AI agents. The protocol is called Agent Payments Protocol or AP2. It aims to let software agents shop and complete transactions for people while keeping records that can be audited later. Google posted the full specification on GitHub and said more than 60 merchants and financial firms backed the first release.
The idea is simple on paper and complex in practice. An AI agent might book a trip or find a last-minute gift. AP2 gives the agent rules that govern what it may do. The protocol sets out how agents ask for permission and how sellers confirm purchases. Major financial networks like Mastercard and PayPal are among the early supporters. That gives AP2 a strong starting footprint in the payments world.
How AP2 Works
AP2 requires two clear approvals before a purchase can go through. The first is the intent mandate. That mandate tells the agent what to look for and sets boundaries. A mandate can say look for a road bike under a certain price. It can include timing and quality preferences. The second approval is the cart mandate. That final approval lets the agent complete the checkout when the right item is found.
The protocol also supports fully automatic purchases. In that case the intent mandate must be very explicit. The user must give the agent clear rules about price, delivery and timing. AP2 records each step so the transaction can be examined later if needed. That audit trail is a core element of the design.
AP2 is built to work across platforms. It is meant to let an agent from one company talk to an agent from a merchant and a payment provider without special translation. Google said the protocol is open and that it will evolve in public with input from the wider payments community. The specification and code samples are on GitHub for developers to try.
What Comes Next
Google also released an extension that links AP2 to crypto wallets. That work ties into existing crypto payment protocols and was built with Coinbase and the Ethereum foundation. The extension lets agents use crypto accounts when merchants accept such payments.
Several companies already work on agent driven commerce. Stripe offers tools for automated flows and some startups build agent driven shopping systems. Google said it wants AP2 to become a neutral layer that all those tools can plug into. The immediate test will be how well stores and payment firms adopt the standard.
There are important practical questions ahead. Merchants will need to vet agent behavior so automatic purchases do not lead to fraud. Regulators will want to know how consent is obtained and how disputes are resolved. Developers must build user interfaces that let people set clear mandates. The early participation by banks and card networks reduces some risk. It also signals that industry players want a common way for agents to move money.
