The initiative brings together more than 60 companies—including Southeast Asia’s Shopee, Lazada, Garena, and Razer—alongside global heavyweights like Mastercard, PayPal, Coinbase, and American Express.
Why it matters
AI agents are increasingly capable of shopping and making payments on behalf of users. Current systems assume a human clicks “buy,” raising risks when autonomous agents act independently. AP2 provides a universal foundation to verify intent, authorize payments, and ensure accountability.
How it works
At its core are Mandates—tamper-proof, digitally signed contracts that prove a user’s instructions. These records create an auditable trail linking intent, cart, and payment, securing both real-time purchases and delegated tasks.
Big picture
“AP2 provides a trusted foundation to fuel a new era of AI-driven commerce,” said Mark Micallef, Google Cloud’s Southeast Asia managing director.
Google has open-sourced AP2 on GitHub, inviting the payments and tech community to help evolve the standard. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
