Multi-Protocol Infrastructure Taking Shape in AI-Powered Commerce
In the field of AI-powered shopping and agent commerce, a multi-layered and concurrently operating protocol infrastructure is being established rather than a standards war.
With the development of AI-powered commerce, a multi-protocol infrastructure executing different tasks simultaneously is coming to the forefront for marketplaces and sellers instead of a single standard.
Protocol Diversity and Layered Architecture
The coexistence of numerous protocols in the AI-powered shopping ecosystem points to the construction of a multi-layered architecture rather than a standards war.
Different protocols perform various tasks simultaneously, such as inventory discovery, inter-agent communication, authorization, and payment credentials.
Roles of Different Protocols
While Anthropic's Model Context Protocol connects AI systems with external tools and data, Google's A2A protocol enables independent agents to communicate.
These structures, which allow agents to talk to each other and use tools, combine with commerce protocols to shape shopping processes.
Consumer Preferences and Commerce Protocols
Research shows that a significant portion of consumers are ready to empower AI agents in product search and comparison processes.
ACP, jointly developed by OpenAI and Stripe, and the UCP protocol by Google and Shopify offer a broad infrastructure in product discovery and payment workflows.
Payment and Security Standards
The ability of AI agents to conduct transactions without consumer consent requires new authorization and security solutions beyond traditional e-commerce.
Visa's Secure Agent Protocol and Mastercard's Agent Pay infrastructure establish secure payment processes by verifying the identities of agents.