Listen: AP2 (Agent Payments Protocol)
A payment-agnostic open standard that lets autonomous AI agents authorize and complete transactions securely via cryptographically signed "mandates," removing manual checkout.
Transcript
Imagine a world where autonomous AI agents can make purchases and complete transactions on your behalf, without you having to manually click through a checkout screen every single time. This is the promise of the Agent Payments Protocol, or AP2.
AP2 is a payment-agnostic open standard designed to let AI agents authorize and complete secure transactions. Instead of relying on manual inputs, it uses cryptographically signed instructions called mandates. These mandates clearly define what you or your agent have agreed to buy, and they set strict spending limits to keep your money safe. Because the protocol is payment-agnostic, it is not tied to any single card network or digital wallet.
This standard belongs to a growing family of open tools for AI integration, working alongside other frameworks like the Model Context Protocol and WebMCP. By providing a secure, trusted way for agents to handle money, AP2 solves a major bottleneck in the AI economy, opening the door for agents to truly act on our behalf.