Alipay Reports Surge in Agent Payments as AI-Driven Commerce Takes Off

Alipay has reported a dramatic surge in agent-powered payments, driven by the rapid adoption of its Alipay AI Pay solution — a payment system that enables autonomous payments via AI agents embedded in apps, mini-programmes and smart devices. According to recent data, Alipay AI Pay processed more than 120 million transactions in a single week alone, underscoring the acceleration of agentic commerce across China’s digital economy. The expansion of this autonomous payment service reflects growing interest from both consumers and merchants in seamless, hands-free transaction experiences.

Launched in 2025, Alipay AI Pay has extended its reach into a range of real-world use cases — from payment agent integration in popular apps and mini-programmes such as those of retail chains like Luckin Coffee, to support for payment interactions via AI smart glasses and other wearable devices. These developments reveal how AI-driven payment agents are reshaping the way digital payments are executed, moving beyond QR-based scanning and manual confirmation to contextualised transaction experiences powered by natural-language and automated processing.

Key Highlights

• Massive volume: Alipay AI Pay exceeded 120 million transactions in a single week as agent-based payments gain traction.
• Agent-powered autoservice: Payments executed by AI agents within mini-programmes and apps streamline purchasing flows without manual steps.
• Expanding use cases: Integration includes brick-and-mortar retailers like Luckin Coffee and support on AI smart glasses and other devices.
• Growth of contactless tools: Alipay’s Tap! contactless payment solution also saw daily transactions exceed 100 million, extending agentic commerce reach.
• Cross-device support: Payments via smart wearables and glasses point to broader integration of agentic AI payment experiences.

What’s Driving the Surge in Agent Payments

AI and Autonomy in Payments

Alipay’s agentic payment framework enables AI-powered agents to initiate and complete payment transactions on behalf of users — a capability that goes beyond traditional manual mobile wallet operations. Rather than requiring users to scan QR codes, input amounts and tap to confirm, AI Pay lets agents perform tasks with minimal friction. This includes voice or text-activated directives in applications or smart devices, which interpret intent and execute a corresponding purchase.

This shift reflects a broader innovation trend: agentic commerce technologies — such as Alipay’s Agentic Commerce Trust Protocol — are being adopted to allow AI systems to function as intermediaries for secure, compliant payment execution. These systems help reduce transaction drop-offs and improve conversions, particularly in scenarios like on-the-go retail ordering, automated service subscriptions and IoT-linked transactions.

Expanded Payment Experiences Across Devices

Alipay’s agent-based payment services are not limited to smartphone apps. The company has enabled AI agents in smart glasses and wearables, allowing users to purchase items through conversational interfaces and seamless interactions tied to natural activities — like ordering a coffee via smart eyewear without pulling out a phone. This positions Alipay at the forefront of AI-native payment innovations in the mobile commerce space.

Another driver of this surge is the growth of Alipay’s Tap! contactless payment solution, which allows customers to tap their phones or tagged devices to complete payments — a trend that has gathered momentum with more than 100 million daily transactions. This multi-modal payment ecosystem showcases how agentic and contactless technologies are converging to support highly efficient, context-aware purchasing patterns.

Why It Matters

Agentic payment systems represent a new frontier in digital finance, where AI agents act autonomously on behalf of users to simplify and expedite transactions. For both merchants and consumers, this can reduce friction, improve user experiences and unlock new commerce models tied to context and intent — from voice-activated reordering to automated subscription renewals.

China’s leading mobile payment platforms such as Alipay are uniquely positioned to pioneer these innovations given their extensive ecosystem integration, broad merchant acceptance and deep adoption across both urban and rural payment environments. As Alipay’s agentic model evolves, it could influence how digital wallets and AI agents intersect globally.

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