What does the next evolution of payment APIs look like as we move toward autonomous commerce and AI-driven transactions?
Hans Tesselaar, Executive Director, BIAN In the shorter-term, we can expect to see a focus on security. As the digital ecosystem grows, and the threats posed by cyber-criminals and IT outages remain a key consideration, retailers and consumers alike will seek confirmation that payments are safe.
On a wider scale, as APIs evolve, they will become increasingly embedded into payment processes. From the ability for fast threat detection and response to transactions driven by AI, e. g. refunds and expected payments, admin-driven workflows will need minimal human oversight, creating a frictionless experience for consumers and retailers alike.
“ As the digital ecosystem grows, retailers and consumers will seek confirmation that payments are safe”
HANS TESSELAAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BIAN
Eddie Harrison, Chief Growth Officer and Co-founder, Navro The next evolution of payments won’ t just be about APIs – it’ ll be about tools that empower AI agents to shop, pay, and transact in the real world.
We’ re heading for a future where devices, not just people, initiate payments. Think of a smart fridge automatically re-ordering groceries or a self-driving car paying for its own parking.
The fintech industry is already building the key solutions to make this a reality. Companies like PayPal and Visa are creating agent toolkits and intelligent commerce platforms that allow these AI agents to navigate the financial world. These tools will easily integrate with AI models to predict when a transaction is needed and optimise it on the fly, ensuring a seamless and invisible payment experience for both consumers and merchants.
This shift means the future of payment APIs will be focused on enabling these agents to function smoothly, rather than just connecting platforms.
Ian Campbell, Director of Solutions, Equals Money x Railsr We’ ve already built autonomous functions and AI analytics into our platform, which is helping with greater accuracy, fraud prevention and smoother
108 October 2025