{
  "id": 11047315,
  "title": "Fed’s Waller Eyes Agentic AI Commerce",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/feds-waller-eyes-agentic-ai-commerce",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-30T22:31:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global Finance",
    "slug": "global-finance",
    "url": "https://gfmag.com/economics-policy-regulation/feds-waller-agentic-ai-commerce/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Federal Reserve Board Governor Christopher Waller highlighted artificial intelligence and autonomous AI agents as a catalyst for the next major evolution in global and cross-border payments during a speech at Sibos 2026 in Miami. Waller noted that the early adoption of machine learning and large language models within the payment industry has played a crucial role in combating fraud and enhancing efficiency in tasks such as reconciliation. He emphasized that these AI agents can now pave the way for a broader integration of artificial intelligence into economic processes, enabling them to plan and execute complex, multi-step transactions using large language models, thereby facilitating autonomous transactions.\n\nWaller delineated two primary models of agentic commerce: agentic-assisted and agentic-delegated. In the agentic-assisted model, AI agents assist buyers primarily in product search and discovery, while the buyer retains full control over the purchasing decisions. Conversely, in the agentic-delegated model, buyers grant AI agents the authority to shop and make payments on their behalf. While buyers can set certain constraints and establish guardrails, the AI agent operates independently. Waller cautioned that the agentic-delegated model could heighten the risk of unintended purchases, urging the implementation of more robust trust mechanisms and guardrails to mitigate potential risks.\n\nLooking ahead, Waller pointed out that agentic commerce is poised to make significant inroads in business-to-business (B2B) transactions, which frequently involve recurring purchases under predefined rules, such as approved suppliers and budget limits. These transactions provide a natural framework for the deployment of AI agents, which could also potentially negotiate terms with suppliers and devise payment strategies to optimize working capital. However, due to the typically higher value of B2B transactions, Waller stressed the necessity of developing and deploying comprehensive controls and monitoring systems to manage these potential risks. Unlike consumer transactions, B2B transactions necessitate support for a diverse array of payment methods, including the Automated Clearing House, wire transfers, instant payments, and credit cards, thereby posing additional challenges.\n\nThe primary hurdle to the widespread adoption of agentic commerce lies in establishing trust mechanisms between buyers and sellers, a shift that alters the conventional framework of payment authentication. Waller contended that this transformation necessitates new authentication methods, focusing on verifying the authority of an AI agent to execute payments on behalf of a buyer, rather than proving the buyer's authorization to pay. Among the critical questions that Waller pondered for the future of agentic commerce were whether it would converge towards platform-specific standards or interoperable standards that could facilitate transactions across various ecommerce systems, agent interfaces, and payment methods. Interoperable standards could potentially level the playing field for smaller merchants and payment providers, allowing them to participate more effectively in this emerging domain.\n\nNevertheless, Waller cautioned that the payment industry must take substantial strides before the realization of agentic commerce becomes a reality. Key among these steps is the development of standards governing how AI agents can manage identities, consent, and payment credentials seamlessly across the entire ecommerce ecosystem. Additionally, striking an optimal balance between user convenience and the necessary friction associated with agent authorization will be crucial. Waller concluded that these initiatives must balance innovation with the fundamental principles of safety, integrity, and stability that are pivotal to maintaining trust in the payment system.",
  "summary": "Artificial intelligence and autonomous AI agents will fuel the next evolutionary leap in global and cross-border payments, Federal Reserve Board Gov. Christopher Waller said during a speech at Sibos 2026 in Miami. The payment industry’s early adoption of machine learning and large language models has helped combat payment fraud and quicken reconciliation and similar tasks, .. The post…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}