Imagine shopping without lifting a finger. Sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, right? Well, for Australians, it’s fast becoming a reality. With the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI), shopping is no longer just about clicking a few buttons—it’s becoming a seamless, smarter experience.
The AI Shopping Revolution
In 2026, Australians are increasingly relying on AI to help with their shopping—whether it’s booking a movie ticket or planning a holiday getaway. Through a partnership between Mastercard and Commonwealth Bank, AI is now being used to handle transactions on behalf of consumers. This means that you can have your AI assistant search for tickets, find the best deals, and even complete the purchase for you.
A trial program showed how this works in practice: AI was used to buy movie tickets and even book a holiday at Thredbo using a Westpac card. The concept, known as “agentic transactions,” is changing the way we think about online purchases. Instead of spending time comparing prices and manually entering payment information, AI can now do all of that for you.
The Benefits: Speed, Personalization, and Security
For consumers, this technology is a game-changer. With AI making personalized recommendations, Australians are discovering products and services in ways that feel more tailored to their needs. According to Surin Fernando, senior vice president of Mastercard in the region, this development opens up a new era of secure, personalized shopping. “Australians are going to search and discover things in new and more personalised ways,” Fernando says to Yahoo Finance.
The big benefit? AI can make secure transactions without the need to manually enter credit card details every time. This leads to more transparency and improved fraud detection, offering consumers peace of mind during their online shopping experience.
Some Concerns: Transparency and Security
However, the move toward AI-powered shopping is not without its challenges. Security remains a top concern for many, especially as AI requires inputting personal information and payment details into chatbots or assistants. Currently, card providers are struggling to verify whether a transaction is actually made by the purchaser, which raises questions about privacy and fraud risks.
To address these issues, companies are exploring solutions like face ID and ensuring consumers can view an itemized list of their purchases before making payments. This transparency could help solve some of the security concerns, allowing for safer transactions and smoother processes.
What’s Next for AI Shopping?
As the use of AI grows, the future of shopping looks very different. For many, the convenience of having an AI assistant handle the heavy lifting in the shopping process could make it the preferred way to shop. With 78% of Australians believing that AI shopping will go mainstream, it’s only a matter of time before more people get on board with this revolutionary new shopping experience.
However, questions around data security and privacy still need to be addressed. For now, it looks like AI will continue to evolve and shape the way Australians shop—faster, smarter, and perhaps even a little too much.
