AI Shopping Assistants Face Trust and Data‑Privacy Hurdles

Recent surveys across the United Kingdom, United States and Australia reveal that roughly two‑thirds of consumers are eager to use AI‑powered shopping assistants for product research and price comparison. However, fewer than five percent want AI to complete the checkout, and many express concerns about payment security, data privacy and hidden sponsorship. In the UK, 80 % would abandon a service over data misuse and 56 % have already stopped using a brand for privacy reasons, while half would pay more for transparent AI use. Visa has integrated its payment network into ChatGPT, enabling AI‑driven purchases, but stresses the need for fraud monitoring and spending limits. Retailers report that legacy e‑commerce platforms and heavily customized systems limit the rollout of AI features, creating a “growth tax” that diverts budget from innovation. Across the markets, trust, clear consent and control over AI‑driven transactions are seen as essential for wider adoption of agentic commerce.