Google's new open protocol secures AI agent transactions - and 60 companies already support it

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Google announces Agent Payments Protocol (AP2).
• AP2 helps companies carry out agent-led payments securely.
• The protocol is launched with the support of more than 60 organizations.

The next level of AI assistance in e-commerce is agent-led AI transactions, where your agent can place orders on your behalf, saving you time as a consumer and connecting your product to buyers if you're a merchant.

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While the technology is promising, there are also security concerns because an agent has access to your payment details. To address those concerns, Google has launched its new Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), which the company describes as an "open protocol developed with leading payments and technology companies to securely initiate and transact agent-led payments ...