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Google announced a new open protocol for purchases initiated by AI agents — automated software programs that can shop and make decisions on behalf of users — with backing from more than 60 merchants and financial institutions. Called the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), the system is meant to be interoperable between AI platforms, payment systems and vendors, providing a traceable paper trail for each transaction.
“The agent can then interact with both airline and hotel agents, as well as online travel agencies and booking platforms,” the post explains, “and once it finds a combination that fits the budget, it can execute both cryptographically-signed bookings simultaneously.”
https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/16/google-launches-new-protocol-for-agent-driven-purchases/
