Alipay’s AI Pay has processed more than 120 million transactions in a single week. That number places AI-driven payments firmly in the category of scaled infrastructure rather than early experimentation. In China’s highly digital commerce environment, this level of activity signals real user adoption.
From manual checkout to agent-led interaction
AI Pay allows users to authorize AI agents to complete purchases and payments on their behalf. Instead of navigating product pages and checkout screens step by step, users interact with an AI interface that can select products, confirm orders, and execute payment within the same conversational flow.
Alipay describes this model as agentic commerce. The AI agent becomes the interface for both shopping and paying. Payment is no longer a separate step at the end of a journey. It is embedded directly into the interaction.
Building the trust layer
Delegating financial actions to AI systems requires structured safeguards. In January 2026, Alipay introduced the Agentic Commerce Trust Protocol to connect AI services directly with commerce platforms and payment infrastructure.
Early partners include Alibaba’s large language model Qwen and Taobao Instant Commerce. Through Qwen’s AI interface, users can place orders conversationally, while the transaction is executed through Alipay in the background. The experience feels simple. The underlying payment execution remains structured and compliant.
Interface innovation without trust architecture does not scale.
Real-world deployment
This shift is already visible across consumer touchpoints. Retailers such as Luckin Coffee support AI-enabled ordering and payment through mini programs. Alipay has also integrated AI payment capabilities into smart devices, including AI glasses developed by Rokid.
In these examples, payment happens inside the device experience rather than through a conventional mobile checkout page. The interface changes, but the payment rails remain consistent.
Alongside AI Pay, Alipay continues to scale its contactless Tap solution, launched in 2024. Daily Tap transactions have exceeded 100 million and extend beyond retail payments into ordering and access-related use cases. The broader direction is toward payments that adapt to context rather than forcing users into fixed flows.
Structural implications for fintech builders
Processing 120 million AI-initiated transactions in one week suggests users are increasingly comfortable allowing AI systems to act on their behalf in financial interactions. That represents a measurable shift in behavior and trust.
For fintech founders, the implication is architectural. If AI becomes a primary interface layer, payment capabilities must be modular, programmable, and ready for integration into third-party AI systems. Competitive advantage will depend on how seamlessly payments can be embedded into conversations, devices, and external platforms.
Key takeaways for fintech startups
Here are the practical lessons from this development:
- AI agents are already executing payments at significant scale in a major market.
- Trust frameworks are essential when delegating financial actions to AI systems.
- Embedding payments inside AI-driven conversations reduces visible checkout friction.
- Device-level integrations expand payment touchpoints beyond traditional mobile apps.
If you are building in payments or commerce infrastructure, this shift deserves careful thought. At Your Fintech Story, we work with founders on product positioning, architecture decisions, and growth strategy.
If AI-enabled payments are on your roadmap, let’s explore how to approach them with clarity and discipline. Get in touch.
